It matters, it always matters, to name rubbish as rubbish; that to do otherwise is to legitimize it.

Sometimes we feel we straddle two cultures; at other times, that we fall between two stools.

Most of what matters in your life takes place in your absence.

There's a lot of conflict and darkness inside everybody's family. We all pretend to outsiders that it's not so but behind locked doors there are usually high emotions running.

Live on, survive, for the earth gives forth wonders. It may swallow your heart, but the wonders keep on coming. You stand before them bareheaded, shriven. What is expected of you is attention.

He knew what he knew: that the real world was full of magic, so magical worlds could easily be real.

I'd wanted to create a storm so that I could become more famous and richer.