If there is one eternal truth of politics, it is that there are always a dozen good reasons for doing nothing. John le Carre dozeneternalgood Change image and share on social
But there is a big difference in working for the West and working for a totalitarian state. John le Carre bigdifferencestate Change image and share on social
Well, certainly I don't think that there are very many good writers who don't live without a sense of tension. If they haven't got one immediately available to them, then they usually manage to manufacture it in their private lives. John le Carre goodimmediatelylive share on social
Novelists are not equipped to make a movie, in my opinion. They make their own movie when they write: they're casting, they're dressing the scene, they're working out where the energy of the scene is coming from and they're also relying tremendously on the creative imagination of the reader. John le Carre castcomecreative share on social
When you are brought up as a frozen child, you go on freezing. It wasn't until I had my four sons, who have brought me immense joy, that I began to thaw. That I realised how utterly extraordinary my childhood was. John le Carre beginbringchild share on social
History keeps her secrets longer than most of us. But she has one secret that I will reveal to you tonight in the greatest confidence. Sometimes there are no winners at all. And sometimes nobody needs to lose. John le Carre confidencegreathistory share on social
The creation of George Smiley, the retired spy recalled to hunt for just such a high-ranking mole in 'Tinker, Tailor,' was extremely personal. I borrowed elements of people I admired and invested them in this mythical character. I'm such a fluent, specious person now, but I was an extremely awkward fellow in those days. John le Carre admireawkwardborrow share on social
There are some subjects that can only be tackled in fiction. John le Carre fictionsubjecttackle Change image and share on social
You have no idea how humiliating it was, as a boy, to suddenly have all your clothes, your toys, snatched by the bailiff. I mean we were a middle-class family, it's not as if it was happening up and down the street. It made me ashamed, I felt dirty. John le Carre ashamedbailiffboy share on social