“It is difficult to reconstruct an emotion. At times it is difficult even to admit to one. I have practiced long and hard at denying entry to such twin imposters as triumph and disaster, or love and hate, but sometimes the barriers are breached.”

“She knows what it is to be sad and miserable, but those emotions are almost enjoyable. They throw moments of happiness and laughter into sharper relief.”

“I'm fond of her."Oh yeah? Fond are you? I've heard of fond. I expect old erection here" - she pointed to the tube of DNA - "was fond of his victim. Fond is a prude's word, Ben. You fancy her. That's what you say. You fancy Miss Library something painful. And who knows?" She grinned, gap-toothed, like the Wife of Bath. "Maybe she fancies you.”

“It's actually very difficult to make something both simple and good.”

“Death is the most sophisticated form of beauty, and the most difficult to accept.”

“Be as intellectual as you like about it, but India is brilliantly mad. And if you want to love it, you have to hate it first.”

“The greatest barrier to someone achieving their potential is their denial of it.”