It's part of a writer's profession, as it's part of a spy's profession, to prey on the community to which he's attached, to take away information - often in secret - and to translate that into intelligence for his masters, whether it's his readership or his spy masters. And I think that both professions are perhaps rather lonely.

John le Carre

John le Carre

Attached Away Both Community He His I Think Information Intelligence Lonely Masters Often Part Perhaps Prey Profession Professions Rather Readership Secret Spy Take Think Translate Whether Which Writer

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But I think the real tension lies in the relationship between what you might call the pursuer and his quarry, whether it's the writer or the spy.

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— John le Carre