In the first book of my Discworld series published more than 26 years ago I introduced Death as a character there was nothing particularly new about this - death has featured in art and literature since medieval times and for centuries we have had a fascination with the Grim Reaper.

Writing is truly a creative art - putting word to a blank piece of paper and ending up with a full-fledged story rife with character and plot.

In general it can be said that a nation's art is greatest when it most reflects the character of its people.

It is the addition of strangeness to beauty that constitutes the romantic character in art.

Progressive art can assist people to learn not only about the objective forces at work in the society in which they live but also about the intensely social character of their interior lives. Ultimately it can propel people toward social emancipation.

True art is characterized by an irresistible urge in the creative artist.

After World War II great strides were made in modern Japanese architecture not only in advanced technology allowing earthquake resistant tall buildings but expressing and infusing characteristics of traditional Japanese architecture in modern buildings.

When I write now I do not invent situation characters or actions but rather structures and discursive forms textual groupings which are combined according to secret affinities among themselves as in architecture or the plastic arts.

I probably spent the first 20 years of my life wanting to be as American as possible. Through my 20s and into my 30s I began to become aware of how so much of my art and architecture has a decidedly Eastern character.

I don't think I could play a character that I couldn't relate to somehow. I'm not unfamiliar with frustration anger shame helplessness and a load of other emotions that make up our psycho-soup. I try to focus on that frustration that sense of unfairness and multiply it.

My character had been in the chair for seven years. He had gone through his anger depression drug and alcohol abuse. He had gone through everything now he was up he was happy he was filled with his dream.

I think for business reasons fiscal reasons I think these cable networks can take greater risks and I think with a risk comes better programming. And I think USA has got an amazing identity to it now that is clearly defined with its 'Characters welcome' tag.

I really enjoyed being Peppy Miller. She was an amazing character and her energy followed me everywhere. When I talk about her I want to be her again.

It was amazing that during rehearsals without any of the costume on the character was there complete. It just happened. Half the time I didn't know I was doing it.

I think I came across Cecil Taylor a bit later in 65 or 66. That really impressed me - Cecil Taylor is an amazing character... Both his music and the way he approaches the instrument are astonishing.

Definitely they write themselves. It's an amazing experience. It's like the characters have come alive and are sitting on my shoulder talking to me telling me their tales.

I think one of the coolest things about the job is the level of trust we have for each other. The actors fully trust that the writers will write amazing episodes and the writers trust that the actors will follow their instincts with the characters.