Electronic aids particularly domestic computers will help the inner migration the opting out of reality. Reality is no longer going to be the stuff out there but the stuff inside your head. It's going to be commercial and nasty at the same time.

Civilization grew in the beginning from the minute that we had communication - particularly communication by sea that enabled people to get inspiration and ideas from each other and to exchange basic raw materials.

I am in favor of complete freedom of information and of free access to the new communication tools in particular the Internet.

I think it's particularly a distinctively American concept that resonates with American culture through biker culture. A motorcycle is an independent thing. You're like 'I don't want to ride in a car with this person. I want to be independent and ride by myself. But let's ride in a group. Let's be independent together.'

My dad used to love Steely Dan the Stones Jethro Tull and all that. There was always Steely Dan going in my dad's car but I remember The Royal Scam in particular because it has 'Kid Charlemagne' on it.

I don't want a flashy car just something that would allow me to stop using the Tube. And it would be good not to have to rely on my mum all the time particularly when I have to listen to her singing in her car.

You want to make sure this particular car is going to please the customer and then you're going to be rewarded with something that is going to please the shareholder.

Most small business owners are not particularly sophisticated business people. That's not a criticism they're passionate about cutting hair or cooking food and that's why they got in the business not because they have an MBA.

Dishonesty in government is the business of every citizen. It is not enough to do your own job. There's no particular virtue in that. Democracy isn't a gift. It's a responsibility.

Of course everybody makes mistakes and we've all been young and stupid. But people need to have a sense of respect particularly in this business because hundreds of people are ready to take your place at any time. Maybe some people should think about that.

Instead it appears to be a particular mark of beauty that it is considered with tranquil satisfaction that it pleases if we also do not possess it and we are still far removed from demanding to possess it.

Maybe I'm old-fashioned. But I remember the beauty and thrill of being moved by Broadway musicals - particularly the endings of shows.

It used to happen in villages and towns in China that they would have - I guess you'd call them beauty contests - where all of the women of a particular village or town would be seated behind these screens or curtains with only their feet showing.

Sometimes I think I might not have written 'The Age of Miracles' if I hadn't grown up in California if I hadn't been exposed to its very particular blend of beauty and disaster of danger and denial.

I always loved aesthetics. Not particularly fashion but an idea of beauty.

I've never had any illusions about being a lead actor in films because lead actors have to be of a certain kind. Apart from the beauty of looks and figure which I cannot claim to have there's just a particular kind of ordinary-Joe quality that a film star needs to have.

Having a child makes you strong and gives you chutzpah. It relaxed my attitude to the job my center of focus shifted which I think is very helpful because even if you're not a very indulgent actor you spend a lot of time thinking about yourself. I don't think that is particularly healthy.