I made a series of wrong decisions about moderately recent books, and I've sold the rights to studios for ridiculous amounts of money and the films have never been made. That's the saddest thing of all, because they're locked up…

Quote by John Le Carre

Topics: John Le Carre Quotes

A spy, like a writer, lives outside the mainstream population. He steals his experience through...

A spy, like a writer, lives outside the mainstream population. He steals his experience through...

Fools, most linguists. Damn all to say in one language, so they learn another and...

Fools, most linguists. Damn all to say in one language, so they learn another and...

Remember Graham Green's dictum that childhood is the bank balance of the writer? I think...

Remember Graham Green's dictum that childhood is the bank balance of the writer? I think...

I happen to write by hand. I don't even type. John Le Carre

I happen to write by hand. I don't even type. John Le Carre

When you're my age and you see a story, you better go for it pretty...

When you're my age and you see a story, you better go for it pretty...

I think I'm in the same mood as ever, but in some ways more mature....

I think I'm in the same mood as ever, but in some ways more mature....

I don't think it is given to any of us to be impertinent to great...

I don't think it is given to any of us to be impertinent to great...

In every war zone that I've been in, there has been a reality and then...

In every war zone that I've been in, there has been a reality and then...

History keeps her secrets longer than most of us. But she has one secret that...

History keeps her secrets longer than most of us. But she has one secret that...

There are some subjects that can only be tackled in fiction.

There are some subjects that can only be tackled in fiction.

Betrayal can only happen if you love

Betrayal can only happen if you love

Every writer knows he is spurious; every fiction writer would rather be credible than authentic.

Every writer knows he is spurious; every fiction writer would rather be credible than authentic.

I think that where I've watched a movie go wrong, it's usually because the dread...

I think that where I've watched a movie go wrong, it's usually because the dread...

In the last 15 or 20 years, I've watched the British press simply go to...

In the last 15 or 20 years, I've watched the British press simply go to...

I don't think that there are very many good writers who don't live without a...

I don't think that there are very many good writers who don't live without a...

I've always had difficulties with female characters.

I've always had difficulties with female characters.

During the Cold War, we lived in coded times when it wasn't easy and there...

During the Cold War, we lived in coded times when it wasn't easy and there...

I am still making order out of chaos by reinvention.

I am still making order out of chaos by reinvention.

The Cold War was over long before it was officially declared dead.

The Cold War was over long before it was officially declared dead.

Writing is like walking in a deserted street. Out of the dust in the street...

Writing is like walking in a deserted street. Out of the dust in the street...