Poverty made a sound like a wet cough in the shadows of the room.

We have our Arts so we won't die of Truth.

The first thing you learn in life is you're a fool. The last thing you learn in life is you're the same fool.

I define science fiction as the art of the possible. Fantasy is the art of the impossible. Science fiction, again, is the history of ideas, and they're always ideas that work themselves out and become real and happen in the world. And fantasy comes along and says, 'We're going to break all the laws of physics.' ... Most people don't realize it, but the series of films which have made more money than any other series of films in the history of the universe is the James Bond series. They're all science fiction, too - romantic, adventurous, frivolous, fantastic science fiction!

My stories run up and bite me on the leg - I respond by writing down everything that goes on during the bite. When I finish, the idea lets go and runs off.

I like to smell things and look at things, and sometimes stay up all night, walking, and watch the sun rise.

I don't think about what I do. I do it. That's Buddhism. I jump off the cliff and build my wings on the way down.