Egyptologists, skilled in piecing together the papyri of lost civilisations, suddenly discovered that the same talent could be applied to working out the pattern of German radio traffic.

It is perseverance, and not genius that takes a man to the top. Rome is full of unrecognized geniuses. Only perseverance enables you to move forward in the world.

The natural impulse of men is to follow and whoever has the strongest sense of purpose will always dominate.

If you spend too long trying to avoid death, you will be dead in at least one way.

I was a political journalist; I came to writing novels through an interest in politics and power.

Don't try to write too much in a single session. One thousand words a day is quite enough. Stop after about four or five hours.

Politics is never a victory, it's just the remorseless grinding forward of events.