Novels arise out of the shortcomings of History.
Harm can come about without will or action. But will and action can avert harm.
Once you get older, people stop listening to what you say. It’s very agreeable once you get used to it.
I like feeling my way into different minds and experiences. It comes naturally and always has.
The more research you do, the more at ease you are in the world you’re writing about. It doesn’t encumber you, it makes you free.
I watch a lot of sport on television. I only watch certain sports, and I only watch them live – I don’t think I’ve ever been able to watch a replay of a match or game of which the result was already decided. I feel bound to cheat and look up what can be looked up.
Never stop paying attention to things. Never make your mind up finally. Do not hold beliefs.
It’s because I’m a feminist that I can’t stand women limiting other women’s imaginations. It really makes me angry.
Good writing is always new.
Outside our small safe place flies mystery.
I do not want to be a relative and passive being, anywhere. I want to live and love and write.
Where would we be without inhibitions? Theyre quite useful things when you look at some of the things humans do if they lose them.
You can understand a lot about yourself by working out which fairytale you use to present your world to yourself in.
It’s a terrible poison, writing.
Autobiographies tell more lies than all but the most self-indulgent fiction .
I’m more interested in books than people, and I always expect everybody else to be, but they’re not.
I think there are a lot more important things than art in the world. But not to me.
Our days weave together the simple pleasures of daily life, which we should never take for granted, and the higher pleasures of Art and Thought which we may now taste as we please, with none to forbid or criticise.
A surprising number of people – including many students of literature – will tell you they haven’t really lived in a book since they were children.
I am a profound pessimist both about life and about human relations and about politics and ecology. Humans are inadequate and stupid creatures who sooner or later make a mess, and those who are trying to do good do a lot more damage than those who are muddling along.