If you're a misanthrope you stay at home. There are certain writers who really don't like other people. I'm not like that, I don't think. Paul Theroux homemisanthropepeople Change image and share on social
Anything is possible on a train: a great meal, a binge, a visit from card players, an intrigue, a good night's sleep, and strangers' monologues framed like Russian short stories. Paul Theroux bingecardframe Change image and share on social
The Peace Corps is a sort of Howard Johnson's on the main drag into maturity. Paul Theroux corpsdraghoward Change image and share on social
There's books that are about places we will never go, and then there's books that inspire us to go. Paul Theroux bookinspireplace Change image and share on social
I think I am typical in believing that the Peace Corps trained us brilliantly and then did little more except send us into the bush. It was not a bad way of running things. Paul Theroux badbelievebrilliantly Change image and share on social
There are two worlds: the world of the tourist and the world of everyone else. Often they're side by side. But the tourist doesn't actually see how people live. Paul Theroux livepeopleside Change image and share on social
There are probably more annoying things than being hectored about African development by a wealthy Irish rock star in a cowboy hat, but I can't think of one at the moment. Paul Theroux africanannoycowboy Change image and share on social
I've never spent a whole year in one place without leaving. Paul Theroux haveleaveplace Change image and share on social
When I was in the Peace Corps I never made a phone call. I was in Central Africa; I didn't make a phone call for two years. I was in Uganda for another four years and I didn't make a phone call. So for six years I didn't make a phone call, but I wrote letters, I wrote short stories, I wrote books. Paul Theroux africabookcall share on social
Dentists seem to me very orderly, businesslike people who appear to become somewhat bored with the routine of their work after a period of time. Perhaps I'm wrong. Paul Theroux borebusinesslikedentist Change image and share on social