"Only by living at the edge of death can you understand the indescribable joy of life."

“Changi became my university instead of my prison. … Among the inmates there were experts in all walks of life — the high and the low roads. I studied and absorbed everything I could from physics to counterfeiting, but most of all I learned the art of surviving.”

“The more I know, the more sure I am I know so little. The eternal paradox.”

“I'm going to pray to our leader every time!”

“I'm going to work hard not to have any wrong thoughts!”

“I write short stories. They may appear big in size, but when you consider it, they're four or five novels in one. … In return for picking up one of my books, I'm trying to give them value for their money. … the goal of writing any book is to create the illusion that what you are reading is reality and you're part of it.”

“Of course wars are fought by teenagers — you realize that — they really ought to be fought by the politicians and the old people who start these wars.”