The vast literature concerning whistleblowers shows that, far from weird extremists, they are really quite ordinary people: male and female, young and old, junior and senior, no more nerdy or obsessive than most hard workers.

For good ideas and true innovation, you need human interaction, conflict, argument, debate.

If we aren't going to be afraid of conflict, we have to see it as thinking.

British innovation in design, in the creative arts, in engineering and manufacturing is world class.

For me, the perfect film has no dialogue at all. It's purely a visual, emotional, visceral kind of experience. And I think one can create wonderful depth and meaning and communication without using words. I started out as an illustrator and a cartoonist and caricature artist, so for me the visual is primary.

Ah, the creative process is the same secret in science as it is in art. They are all the same absolutely.

I always wanted to be a painter. I loved painting. I went on three different art courses but had no talent whatsoever.

If you are making money writing, you are doing great. If you can support yourself writing, you are a success. I don't care if you're writing textbooks or Pulitzer Prize-winning articles for weighty publications of world renown: If you're writing and it's paying the bills, consider yourself a successful writer.