Genies rarely have nightmares, for the same reason that elephants don't usually worry about being trampled underfoot. With the possible exception of bottles, there's nothing in the cosmos large enough or malicious enough to frighten them, or stupid enough to try.

Love is an optical illusion that makes you believe the object of your affection is the most beautiful person in the world.

Not only had he lost the only girl he'd ever loved, he'd lost her in duplicate, like some heartbroken but highly efficient civil servant.

At any given time, ninety-nine-point-nine-five per cent of the human race are a confounded nuisance

I try and do 2,500 words a day, every day of the year

In spite of really intense competition for the job, I'm still my own worst enemy.

Luck, like a Russian car, generally only works if you push it.