“Being working class, my parents thought, 'Ian's going to uni, the firs...” — Ian Rankin Quote

“Being working class, my parents thought, 'Ian's going to uni, the first in the family,' and I'd do dentistry or accountancy. I was going to do accountancy; then I got a C in Economics and thought, 'Why am I doing this?' The only thing I was interested in was books and literature.”

“I don't hang out with cops.”

“I am, of course, a frustrated rock star - I'd much rather be a rock star than a writer. Or own a record shop. Still, it's not a bad life, is it? You just sit at a computer and make stuff up.”

“Time passed solely in the pursuit of pleasure leaves no solid enjoyment for the future; but from the hours you spend in reading and studying useful books, you will gather a golden harvest in future years.”

“I think books that are meant to be read in the nighttime ought to confront the very fears that we're trying to think about.”

“I had no idea how long books were supposed to be.”