“Every writer knows he is spurious; every fiction writer would rather b...” — John le Carre Quote

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

“The Secret Intelligence Service I knew occupied dusky suites of little rooms opposite St James's Park Tube station in London.”

“A committee is an animal with four back legs.”

“Eight times a week, I got to be a gay man, a remarkable gay man, and every night, that felt as full, as true, as passionate, and as authentic as I ever felt in my life.”

“I love to see women who are comfortable in their skin and dress to suit their body - that looks fabulous because it's authentic.”

“It's funny; it's a real balancing act. In TV, everybody's talking about authenticity. In order to make 'Dirty Jobs' authentic, I really can't be overly informed. The minute I am, I become a host... It's a very tricky business paying a tribute to work, because TV is very bad at it.”