I Love The Sea As Much As

I Grew Up In Rhodesia On My Father's Ranch And Every Year He Used To Take Us On Safari In Some Remote Area Of The Wilderness.

Sometimes It Is Best For Men Not To Attempt To Interfere With Destiny. Our Prayers Can Be Answered In Ways Which We Do Not Expect And Do Not Welcome.

Usually Halfway Through A Book I Have A Serious Depression, So I Go On Safari On My Ranch In South Africa, Or Fishing Off My Island In The Seychelles. When I Come Back And Re-read It, I Think: 'what Was All That About, Smith? It's Fine, Just Get On With It.'

It's A Strange Paradox That A Man Gifted With Too Many Talents Can Fritter Them All Away Without Developing A Single One To Its Full.

At The Age Of 12 I Won The School Prize For Best English Essay. The Prize Was A Copy Of Somerset Maugham's 'introduction To Modern English And American Literature.' To This Day I Keep It On The Shelf Between My Collection Of Forester's Works And The Little Urn That Contains My Mother's Ashes.