If youre a misanthrope you stay at home. There are certain writers who really dont like other people. Im not like that, I dont think. – Paul Theroux
The Peace Corps is a sort of Howard Johnsons on the main drag into maturity. – Paul Theroux
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
You define a good flight by negatives: you didnt get hijacked, you didnt crash, you didnt throw up, you werent late, you werent nauseated by the food. So you are grateful. – Paul Theroux
Part of what I loved – and love – about being around older people is the tangible sense of history they embody. Im interested in military history, for instance, because both my grandfathers fought in World War II. Im interested in writing because one of those grandfathers wrote books. – Jon Meacham