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Why was London the only capital in the world that lost its personality at night? Smiley, as he pulled his coat more closely about him, could think of nowhere, from Los Angeles to Berne, which so readily gave up its daily struggle for identity.

— John le Carré Call for the Dead (1961)

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More quotes by John le Carré

But so many men learnt strength during the war, learnt terrible things, and put aside their knowledge with a shudder when it ended.

A Murder of Quality (1962)

Such an effort being with people—on stage all the time.

A Murder of Quality (1962)

The fact that you can only do a little is no excuse for doing nothing.

A Most Wanted Man (2008)

He possessed, however, that persistent inquisitiveness which for journalists and lawyers is an end in itself.

The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (1963)

I thought it would be valuable to record the events—even if they did not take place.

Call for the Dead (1961)

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Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: John le Carré (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.