A relationship with an imaginary woman is preferable to a relationship with a real one.

A book is a version of the world. If you do not like it, ignore it; or offer your own version in return.

I'm not a big fan of there being voiceovers in movies. I really prefer it when the film tells it story.

If you actually want to change your world, there is a better way of doing it than blowing yourself up.

Vulnerability of artists is definitely what makes organizations like PEN necessary because, as I tried to argue, the actual work that writers and artists do has an ornery way of surviving. Particularly in this age of the internet, it is very easy for forbidden work to be found online somewhere if you know where to look. Artists themselves, however, are in increasing danger, and not just artists. The great concern is that year after year, rising numbers of journalists are being killed in pursuit of their work.

The people suffering most from the Taliban were Afghans.

My first novel - the novel I wrote before 'Midnight's Children' - feels, to me, now, very - I mean, I get embarrassed when I see people reading it. You know, there are some people who, bizarrely, like it. Which I'm, you know, I'm happy for.