John Le Carre Quotes

Top 100 wise famous quotes and sayings by John Le Carre

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John Le Carre Famous Quotes & Sayings

Discover top inspirational quotes from John Le Carre on Wise Famous Quotes.

John Le Carre quotes: It's easy to forget what intelligence consists of: luck and speculation. Here and there a windfall, here and there a scoop. It's easy to forget what intelligence consists of: luck and speculation. Here and there a windfall, here and there a scoop.
John Le Carre quotes: He appeared to spend a lot of money on really bad clothes. He appeared to spend a lot of money on really bad clothes.
John Le Carre quotes: In every operation there is an above the line and a below the line. Above the line is what you do by the book. Below the line is how you In every operation there is an above the line and a below the line. Above the line is what you do by the book. Below the line is how you do the job.
John Le Carre quotes: Let's die of it before we're too old. Let's die of it before we're too old.
John Le Carre quotes: Urgent equals ephemeral, and ephemeral equals unimportant. Urgent equals ephemeral, and ephemeral equals unimportant.
John Le Carre quotes: I happen to write by hand. I don't even type. I happen to write by hand. I don't even type.
John Le Carre quotes: With people you see in them what you already know. With people you see in them what you already know.
John Le Carre quotes: It was simpler in those days. We could say they'd died for their country. We didn't have to tell them the details; they didn't expect that. It was simpler in those days. We could say they'd died for their country. We didn't have to tell them the details; they didn't expect that.
John Le Carre quotes: Her palm was broad and strong and dry. Its nakedness against his own was like the gift of her entire body. Her palm was broad and strong and dry. Its nakedness against his own was like the gift of her entire body.
John Le Carre quotes: What that judge did is immoral. Here in Panama when we bribe somebody we expect loyalty. What that judge did is immoral. Here in Panama when we bribe somebody we expect loyalty.
John Le Carre quotes: Every man has his personal devil waiting for him somewhere. Every man has his personal devil waiting for him somewhere.
John Le Carre quotes: Yet it's not for want of future that I'm here, he thought. It's for want of a present. Yet it's not for want of future that I'm here, he thought. It's for want of a present.
John Le Carre quotes: If there is one eternal truth of politics, it is that there are always a dozen good reasons for doing nothing. If there is one eternal truth of politics, it is that there are always a dozen good reasons for doing nothing.
John Le Carre quotes: For decades to come the spy world will continue to be the collective couch where the subconscious of each nation is confessed. For decades to come the spy world will continue to be the collective couch where the subconscious of each nation is confessed.
John Le Carre quotes: But gossip must see its characters in black and white, equip them with sins and motives easily conveyed in the shorthand of conversation. But gossip must see its characters in black and white, equip them with sins and motives easily conveyed in the shorthand of conversation.
John Le Carre quotes: Everyone who is not happy must be shot. Everyone who is not happy must be shot.
John Le Carre quotes: Tyranny is like the electric wiring in an old house. A tyrant dies, the new tyrant takes possession, and all he has to do is drop the switch. Tyranny is like the electric wiring in an old house. A tyrant dies, the new tyrant takes possession, and all he has to do is drop the switch.
John Le Carre quotes: Love means having something to betray. Love means having something to betray.
John Le Carre quotes: George, this is history," Lacon protested weakly. "This is not today. George, this is history," Lacon protested weakly. "This is not today.
John Le Carre quotes: A good man knows when to sacrifice himself, a bad man survives but loses his soul. A good man knows when to sacrifice himself, a bad man survives but loses his soul.
John Le Carre quotes: In capitalist America economic repression of the masses is institutionalised to a point which not even Lenin could have foreseen . . . "The In capitalist America economic repression of the masses is institutionalised to a point which not even Lenin could have foreseen . . . "The
John Le Carre quotes: Breath and caught the Breath and caught the
John Le Carre quotes: I and the public know What all schoolchildren learn, Those to whom evil is done Do evil in return. - W. H. AUDEN I and the public know What all schoolchildren learn, Those to whom evil is done Do evil in return. - W. H. AUDEN
John Le Carre quotes: You should have died when I killed you. You should have died when I killed you.
John Le Carre quotes: If you see the world as gloomily as I see it, the only thing to do is laugh or shoot yourself. If you see the world as gloomily as I see it, the only thing to do is laugh or shoot yourself.
John Le Carre quotes: But hatred was really not an emotion which he could sustain for any length of time, unless it was the obverse side of love. But hatred was really not an emotion which he could sustain for any length of time, unless it was the obverse side of love.
John Le Carre quotes: The fact that you can only do a little is no excuse for doing nothing. The fact that you can only do a little is no excuse for doing nothing.
John Le Carre quotes: one of those world builders who do othing but destroy, one of those world builders who do othing but destroy,
John Le Carre quotes: It was like feeding a small child. You couldn't over load the spoon. It was like feeding a small child. You couldn't over load the spoon.
John Le Carre quotes: Survival ... is an infinite capacity for suspicion. Survival ... is an infinite capacity for suspicion.
John Le Carre quotes: His master plan was already dead, as his master plans usually were. His master plan was already dead, as his master plans usually were.
John Le Carre quotes: Jesus Christ only had twelve, you know, and one of them was a double. Jesus Christ only had twelve, you know, and one of them was a double.
John Le Carre quotes: Ideologies have no heart of their own. They're the whores and angels of our striving selves. Ideologies have no heart of their own. They're the whores and angels of our striving selves.
John Le Carre quotes: In Lacon's world, direct questions were the height of bad taste, but direct answers were worse. In Lacon's world, direct questions were the height of bad taste, but direct answers were worse.
John Le Carre quotes: I think that all writers feel alienated ... I know that I do ... I still feel, as I think most creative people do, absolutely isolated. I think that all writers feel alienated ... I know that I do ... I still feel, as I think most creative people do, absolutely isolated.
John Le Carre quotes: I've never been able to write a book without one very strong character in my rucksack. I've never been able to write a book without one very strong character in my rucksack.
John Le Carre quotes: She had the experience to suffer with discretion. She had the experience to suffer with discretion.
John Le Carre quotes: It's death, that's what I'm suffering from. The systematic encroachment of the big D. It's death, that's what I'm suffering from. The systematic encroachment of the big D.
John Le Carre quotes: I move my lips when I read I'm painfully slow so I like really good English. I move my lips when I read
I'm painfully slow
so I like really good English.
John Le Carre quotes: I mean, I'm in the business of storytelling, not message making. I mean, I'm in the business of storytelling, not message making.
John Le Carre quotes: Gossip till the cows come home. Gossip till the cows come home.
John Le Carre quotes: One sacrificed for many. It's not pretty, I know, choosing who it'll beturning the plan into people. One sacrificed for many. It's not pretty, I know, choosing who it'll be
turning the plan into people.
John Le Carre quotes: To possess another language is to possess another soul. To possess another language is to possess another soul.
John Le Carre quotes: Everything he admired or loved had been the product of intense individualism ... when had mass philosophies ever brought benefit or wisdom? Everything he admired or loved had been the product of intense individualism ... when had mass philosophies ever brought benefit or wisdom?
John Le Carre quotes: In a civilized country you can never tell. In a civilized country you can never tell.
John Le Carre quotes: What else has a journalist to do these days, after all, but report life's miseries? What else has a journalist to do these days, after all, but report life's miseries?
John Le Carre quotes: Her instinct was to defend, to hoard the treasures of her life, to build about herself the symbols of normal existence. Her instinct was to defend, to hoard the treasures of her life, to build about herself the symbols of normal existence.
John Le Carre quotes: There is no reward for love except the experience of loving, and nothing to be learned by it except humility. There is no reward for love except the experience of loving, and nothing to be learned by it except humility.
John Le Carre quotes: Let's all pretend to be someone else, and then perhaps we'll find out who we are. Let's all pretend to be someone else, and then perhaps we'll find out who we are.
John Le Carre quotes: He looks like a mixture of Humpty-Dumpty and a Cornish elf very short and broad and I don't think he's anyone's fool. He looks like a mixture of Humpty-Dumpty and a Cornish elf
very short and broad
and I don't think he's anyone's fool.
John Le Carre quotes: All men are born free: just not for long. All men are born free: just not for long.
John Le Carre quotes: The monsters of our childhood do not fade away, neither are they ever wholly monstrous The monsters of our childhood do not fade away, neither are they ever wholly monstrous
John Le Carre quotes: The Secret Intelligence Service I knew occupied dusky suites of little rooms opposite St James's Park Tube station in London. The Secret Intelligence Service I knew occupied dusky suites of little rooms opposite St James's Park Tube station in London.
John Le Carre quotes: Society is unconcerned with the aftermath of sensation. Society is unconcerned with the aftermath of sensation.
John Le Carre quotes: Luck's just another word for destiny ... either you make your own or you're screwed. Luck's just another word for destiny ... either you make your own or you're screwed.
John Le Carre quotes: No problem exists in isolation, one must first reduce it to its basic components, then tackle each component in turn. No problem exists in isolation, one must first reduce it to its basic components, then tackle each component in turn.
John Le Carre quotes: A spy, like a writer, lives outside the mainstream population. He steals his experience through bribes and reconstructs it. A spy, like a writer, lives outside the mainstream population. He steals his experience through bribes and reconstructs it.
John Le Carre quotes: Band above her and calls to somebody she Band above her and calls to somebody she
John Le Carre quotes: He wondered whether there was any love between human beings that did not rest upon some sort of self-delusion ... He wondered whether there was any love between human beings that did not rest upon some sort of self-delusion ...
John Le Carre quotes: If a decade of diplomatic life had taught Toby one thing, it was to treat every crisis as normal and soluble. If a decade of diplomatic life had taught Toby one thing, it was to treat every crisis as normal and soluble.
John Le Carre quotes: Austerity pleased her - it gave her the comfort of sacrifice. Austerity pleased her - it gave her the comfort of sacrifice.
John Le Carre quotes: The only reward for love is the experience of loving. The only reward for love is the experience of loving.
John Le Carre quotes: A lot of people see doubt as legitimate philosophical posture. They think of themselves in the middle, whereas of course really, they're nowhere. A lot of people see doubt as legitimate philosophical posture. They think of themselves in the middle, whereas of course really, they're nowhere.
John Le Carre quotes: It struck him as a bit unfair that, at the age of eight, he should have manifested the same sense of solitude that haunted him at forty-three. It struck him as a bit unfair that, at the age of eight, he should have manifested the same sense of solitude that haunted him at forty-three.
John Le Carre quotes: The driver was holding open the rear door. He was young and blond, a boy in his prime. The driver was holding open the rear door. He was young and blond, a boy in his prime.
John Le Carre quotes: Do you know what love is? I'll tell you: it is whatever you can still betray. Do you know what love is? I'll tell you: it is whatever you can still betray.
John Le Carre quotes: Home's where you go when you run out of homes. Home's where you go when you run out of homes.
John Le Carre quotes: We pretend a lot of things aren't there. Or we pretend that other things are more important. That's how we survive. We pretend a lot of things aren't there. Or we pretend that other things are more important. That's how we survive.
John Le Carre quotes: The Cold War was over long before it was officially declared dead. The Cold War was over long before it was officially declared dead.
John Le Carre quotes: During the Cold War, we lived in coded times when it wasn't easy and there were shades of grey and ambiguity. 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 quotes: But we progress, Your Graces. Inexorably we progress. Albeit at the blind man's speed, as we tap-tap along in the dark. But we progress, Your Graces. Inexorably we progress. Albeit at the blind man's speed, as we tap-tap along in the dark.
John Le Carre quotes: Power sits uneasily on those one has grown up with. Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Sailor, Spy. Power sits uneasily on those one has grown up with. Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Sailor, Spy.
John Le Carre quotes: I think bankers will always get away with whatever they can get away with. I think bankers will always get away with whatever they can get away with.
John Le Carre quotes: They might have you, and they pay badly enough to guarantee you decent company. They might have you, and they pay badly enough to guarantee you decent company.
John Le Carre quotes: Who's an ex-diplomat of all people to complain if the wrapping is prettier than what's inside? Who's an ex-diplomat of all people to complain if the wrapping is prettier than what's inside?
John Le Carre quotes: he asked, in a more tentative tone, "What's the he asked, in a more tentative tone, "What's the
John Le Carre quotes: I've got more than one string to my bow, and I thought I'd give this one a twang. I've got more than one string to my bow, and I thought I'd give this one a twang.
John Le Carre quotes: Give a man a car of his own and he leaves humility and common sense behind him in the garage. Give a man a car of his own and he leaves humility and common sense behind him in the garage.
John Le Carre quotes: I don't know whether it's age or maturity, but I certainly find myself committed more and more to the looser forms of Western democracy at any price. I don't know whether it's age or maturity, but I certainly find myself committed more and more to the looser forms of Western democracy at any price.
John Le Carre quotes: Promise to build a chap a house, he won't believe you. Threaten to burn his place down, he'll do what you tell him. Fact of life. Promise to build a chap a house, he won't believe you. Threaten to burn his place down, he'll do what you tell him. Fact of life.
John Le Carre quotes: The easiest and cheapest trick for any leader is to take his country to war on false pretenses. The easiest and cheapest trick for any leader is to take his country to war on false pretenses.
John Le Carre quotes: Smiley was not opposed to social distinctions but he liked to make his own. Smiley was not opposed to social distinctions but he liked to make his own.
John Le Carre quotes: As our Governments spin, lie and lose their credibility, the electorate simply shrugs and looks the other way. As our Governments spin, lie and lose their credibility, the electorate simply shrugs and looks the other way.
John Le Carre quotes: It is also the pardonable vanity of lonely people everywhere to assume that they have no counterparts. It is also the pardonable vanity of lonely people everywhere to assume that they have no counterparts.
John Le Carre quotes: It comforted the great to deal with it and they knew, a man who could reduce any color to grey. It comforted the great to deal with it and they knew, a man who could reduce any color to grey.
John Le Carre quotes: I always say South America's the only place where you cut a gentleman his suit one week and see his statue wearing it the next. I always say South America's the only place where you cut a gentleman his suit one week and see his statue wearing it the next.
John Le Carre quotes: 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 novels under my belt. 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 novels under my belt.
John Le Carre quotes: It's the oldest question of all, George. Who can spy on the spies? It's the oldest question of all, George. Who can spy on the spies?
John Le Carre quotes: Few men can resist expressing their appetites when they're making a fantasy about themselves. Few men can resist expressing their appetites when they're making a fantasy about themselves.
John Le Carre quotes: In the hands of politicians grand designs achieve nothing but new forms of the old misery ... In the hands of politicians grand designs achieve nothing but new forms of the old misery ...
John Le Carre quotes: I think that where I've watched a movie go wrong, it's usually because the dread committee has been interfering with it. I think that where I've watched a movie go wrong, it's usually because the dread committee has been interfering with it.
John Le Carre quotes: Writing doesn't get easier. Every novel is a first novel. Writing doesn't get easier. Every novel is a first novel.
John Le Carre quotes: They would expect him to be afraid; for his service pursued traitors as the eye of God followed Cain across the desert. They would expect him to be afraid; for his service pursued traitors as the eye of God followed Cain across the desert.
John Le Carre quotes: Odd," he remarked finally. "One has no sense of shock. Why is that, Peter? You know me. Why is it? Odd," he remarked finally. "One has no sense of shock. Why is that, Peter? You know me. Why is it?
John Le Carre quotes: Intelligence work has one moral law - it is justified by results. Intelligence work has one moral law - it is justified by results.
John Le Carre quotes: Blackmail is more effective than bribery. Blackmail is more effective than bribery.
John Le Carre quotes: I worked for MI6 in the Sixties, during the great witch-hunts, when the shared paranoia of the Cold War gripped the services. I worked for MI6 in the Sixties, during the great witch-hunts, when the shared paranoia of the Cold War gripped the services.
John Le Carre quotes: You could be the perfect spy. All you need is a cause. You could be the perfect spy. All you need is a cause.
John Le Carre quotes: The vertical manThough we value noneBut the horizontal one. The vertical man
Though we value none
But the horizontal one.
John Le Carre quotes: Over them, in a swaying, muddy mist, hung the flies, snoring on a single note. Over them, in a swaying, muddy mist, hung the flies, snoring on a single note.

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