John le Carré quotes

A desk is a dangerous place from which to view the world. (John le Carré)
Every writer wants to be believed. But every writer knows he is spurious; every fiction writer would rather be credible than authentic. View quote
John le Carré
America has entered one of its periods of historic madness, but this is the worst I can remember. View quote
John le Carré
You can't make war against terror. Terror is a technique of battle. It's a tactic that has been employed since time immemorial. You can conduct clandestine action against terrorists, and that must be done. View quote
John le Carré
There is a big difference between fighting the cold war and fighting radical Islam. The rules have changed and we haven't. View quote
John le Carré
The monsters of our childhood do not fade away, neither are they ever wholly monstrous. But neither, in my experience, do we ever reach a plane of detachment regarding our parents, however wise and old we may become. To pretend otherwise is to cheat. View quote
John le Carré
I'm really a library man, or second-hand book man. View quote
John le Carré
If you're in a hole, don't dig, they say. View quote
John le Carré
We lie to one another every day, in the sweetest way, often unconsciously. We dress ourselves and compose ourselves in order to present ourselves to one another. View quote
John le Carré
I think that where I've watched a movie go wrong, it's usually because the dread committee has been interfering with it. View quote
John le Carré
Blackmail is more effective than bribery. (John le Carré)
If there is one eternal truth of politics, it is that there are always a dozen good reasons for doing nothing. View quote
John le Carré
Love is whatever you can still betray. Betrayal can only happen if you love. View quote
John le Carré
Why is it that so many men of small stature have more courage than men of size? View quote
John le Carré
No problem exists in isolation, one must first reduce it to its basic components, then tackle each component in turn. View quote
John le Carré
We have learned in recent years to translate almost all of political life in terms of conspiracy. And the spy novel, as never before, really, has come into its own. View quote
John le Carré
Luck's just another word for destiny...either you make your own or you're screwed. View quote
John le Carré
So odd to think of the Devil as a fumbler! View quote
John le Carré
I don't know whether it's age or maturity, but I certainly find myself committed more and more to the looser forms of Western democracy at any price. View quote
John le Carré
In every war zone that I've been in, there has been a reality and then there has been the public perception of why the war was being fought. In every crisis, the issues have been far more complex than the public has been allowed to know. View quote
John le Carré
Never trade a secret, you'll always get the short end of the bargain. (John le Carré)
There's one thing worse than change and that's the status quo. View quote
John le Carré
A good man knows when to sacrifice himself, a bad man survives but loses his soul. View quote
John le Carré
Having your book turned into a movie is like seeing your oxen turned into bouillon cubes. View quote
John le Carré
When you assimilate, you choose. View quote
John le Carré