As a child I knew almost nothing, nothing beyond what I had picked up in my grandmother's house. All children, I suppose, come into the world like that, not knowing who they are.

The first 50 years of the cinema were absolutely great years. Original minds were at work establishing the ways to tell a story. And what is happening now is a copying, a pastiche-ing of what was done by great men.

We cannot understand all the traits we have inherited. Sometimes we can be strangers to ourselves.

Great writing can be done in biography, history, art.

Whenever I have had to write fiction, I've always had to invent a character who roughly has my background.

But everything of value about me is in my books.

The past has to be seen to be dead; or the past will kill.