Mark Twain was a great traveler and he wrote three or four great travel books. I wouldnt say that Im a travel novelist but rather a novelist who travels – and who uses travel as a background for finding stories of places. – Paul Theroux
A travel book is about someone who goes somewhere, travels on the ground, sees something and spends quite a lot of time doing it, and has a hard time, and then comes back and writes about it. Its not about inventing. – Paul Theroux
The people of Hong Kong are criticized for only being interested in business, but its the only thing theyve been allowed to do. – Paul Theroux
The moment that changed me for ever was the moment my first child was born. I was happy, filled with hope, and thought, Now I understand the whole point of work, of life, of love. – Paul Theroux
When youre a kid, I think you want to be a film star. And Im not as enamoured with that any more. The reality of that life is a lot of travel, and a lot of being away, which is impractical because I have four children, so I dont want to be away that much, not the other side of the world away. – Rob Brydon