The greatest threat to mankind comes from the renunciation of individual scruple in favor of institutional denominators. . . . Real heroism… — John le Carre Copy Share Image
It's part of a writer's profession, as it's part of a spy's profession, to prey on the community to which he's attached,… — John le Carre Copy Share Image
I think the greatest single enemy is the misuse of information, the perversion of truth in the hands of terribly skillful people. — John le Carre Copy Share Image
A lot of people see doubt as legitimate philosophical posture. They think of themselves in the middle, whereas of course really, they're… — John le Carre Copy Share Image
What do you think spies are: priests, saints and martyrs? They're a squalid procession of vain fools, traitors too, yes; pansies, sadists… — John le Carre Copy Share Image
I think that all writers feel alienated. ... I know that I do. ... I still feel, as I think most creative… — John le Carre Copy Share Image
I think that most of my books are part of some process of self-education, often about the places I go to. Most… — John le Carre Copy Share Image
People like you should be stopped, Mr. Woodrow,' she mused aloud, with a puzzled shake of her wise head. 'You think you're… — John le Carre Copy Share Image
Each my book feels like my last book. And then I think, like a dedicated alcoholic, that one more won't do me… — John le Carre Copy Share Image
I used to think it was clever to confuse comedy with tragedy. Now I wish I could distinguish them. — John le Carre Copy Share Image
Most of us live in a condition of secrecy: secret desires, secret appetites, secret hatreds and relationship with the institutions which is… — John le Carre Copy Share Image
“... in moments of crisis our thoughts do not run consecutively but rather sweep over us in waves or intuition and experience ...” — John le Carré Copy Share Image
But I think the real tension lies in the relationship between what you might call the pursuer and his quarry, whether it's… — John le Carre Copy Share Image
Look... we're getting to be old men, and we've spent our lives looking for the weaknesses in one another's systems. I can… — John le Carre Copy Share Image
The creation of George Smiley, the retired spy recalled to hunt for just such a high-ranking mole in 'Tinker, Tailor,' was extremely personal. I… — John le Carre Copy Share Image
During the Cold War, we lived in coded times when it wasn't easy and there were shades of grey and ambiguity. — John le Carre Copy Share Image
“You're history, Donohue. You think countries run the fucking world! Go back to fucking Sunday school. It's 'God save our multinational' they're singing these… — John le Carré Copy Share Image
When you're my age and you see a story, you better go for it pretty quickly. I'd just like to get a few more… — John le Carre Copy Share Image
The trouble is, when professional spies go out of their way to make a definitive statement about one of their own, the public tends… — John le Carre Copy Share Image
Ideologies have no heart of their own. They're the whores and angels of our striving selves. — John le Carre Copy Share Image
“Pain observed is journalistic pain. It's diplomatic pain. It's television pain, over as soon as you switch off your beastly set.” — John le Carré Copy Share Image
The greatest threat to mankind comes from the renunciation of individual scruple in favor of institutional denominators. . . . Real heroism lies, as… — John le Carre Copy Share Image
“and the wood smoke will roll out of the fireplace on to the carpet we paid too much for on that rainy afternoon in… — John le Carré Copy Share Image
“Middle children weep longer than their brothers and sisters. Over her mother’s shoulder, stilling her pains and her injured pride, Jackie Lacon watched the… — John le Carré Copy Share Image
