There can be no better grounding for a lifetime as an author than to see humanity in all its various guises through the lens of the reporter for the town.

The secret is not to dream," she whispered. "The secret is to wake up. Waking up is harder. I have woken up and I am real. I know where I come from and I know where I'm going. You cannot fool me any more. Or touch me. Or anything that is mine.

You take a bunch of people who don't seem any different from you and me, but when you add them all together you get this sort of huge raving maniac with national borders and an anthem.

Look, he said to his imagination, if this is how you're going to behave, I shan't bring you again.

You know I've never agreed with baths. Sittin' around in your own dirt like that.

Real stupidity beats artificial intelligence every time.

And, while it was regarded as pretty good evidence of criminality to be living in a slum, for some reason owning a whole street of them merely got you invited to the very best social occasions.