The whole point of a sacrifice is that you give up something you never really wanted in the first place. People are doing it around you all the time. They give up their careers, say - or their beliefs - or sex.

It’s no good fooling about with love you know. You can’t fall into it like a soft job without dirtying up your hands. It takes muscle and guts. If you can’t bear the thought of messing up your nice, tidy soul, you better give up the whole idea of life and become a saint, because you’ll never make it as a human being. It’s either this world... or the next.

You see I learnt at an early age what it was to be angry – angry and helpless. And I can never forget it. I knew more about – love... betrayal... and death, when I was ten years old than you will probably ever know in your life.

I may be a lost cause, but I thought if you loved me, it needn’t matter.

You’re hurt because everything is changed. Jimmy is hurt because everything is the same. And neither of you can face it. Something’s gone wrong somewhere, hasn’t it?

Anyone who’s never watched somebody die is suffering from a pretty bad case of virginity. For twelve months, I watched my father dying – when I was ten years old.

Why don’t we have a little game? Let’s pretend that we’re human beings, and that we’re actually alive.

Asking a writer what he thinks about criticism is like asking a lamppost what it feels about dogs.

Don't be afraid of being emotional. You won't die of it.

Let's pretend that we're human beings and that we're actually alive.