It's a strange paradox that a man gifted with too many talents can fritter them all away without developing a single one to its full.

Write for yourself, not for a perceived audience. If you do, you'll mostly fall flat on your face, because it's impossible to judge what people want. And you have to read. That's how you learn what is good writing and what is bad. Then the main thing is application. It's hard work.

I go on a hunting safari at least once a year to Botswana, which is fantastic because we have a huge area of wilderness entirely to ourselves. My island covers roughly 55 acres, which again I have to myself, with nearly half a kilometre of private beach with my own jetties and boats.

I don't want children. Why should I let some strange little monster into my life to destroy what to me is a perfect set-up?

My first novel was rejected by some of the most eminent publishers in the world. Starting again was a real wrench.

A cynic had defined aid as simply the system by which poor white people in rich countries gave money to rich black people in poor countries to put into Swiss bank accounts.

beware of your most implacable enemy-yourself.