Michael Morpurgo

"One of the great failings of our education system is that we tend to focus on those who are succeeding in exams, and there are plenty of them. But what we should also be looking at, and a lot more urgently, is those who fail."

"It is the child's understanding that teaches the adults the way of the future. They're still doing it today with modern technology."

"Encouraging young people to believe in themselves and find their own voice whether it's through writing, drama or art is so important in giving young people a sense of self-worth."

"Animals are sentient, intelligent, perceptive, funny and entertaining. We owe them a duty of care as we do to children."

"It's the teacher that makes the difference, not the classroom."

"Don't worry about writing a book or getting famous or making money. Just lead an interesting life."

"Admitting failure is quite cleansing, but never - pleasurable."

"Marry someone who flatters you. Because I've written 80 books since 'War Horse' but when my wife reads one, all she says is, 'It's quite good, but it's not as good as 'War Horse,' is it?"

"Wherever my story takes me, however dark and difficult the theme, there is always some hope and redemption, not because readers like happy endings, but because I am an optimist at heart. I know the sun will rise in the morning, that there is a light at the end of every tunnel."

"There's a nobility in his eye, a regal serenity about him. Does he not personify all that men try to be and never can be?"

"When I think of Tomodachi, I think of your mother. Your mother, she too lose her baby. She lose you. That very sad thing for her. Maybe she come looking, and she not find you. You not there when she come. She think you dead for ever. But she see you in her mind. Now as I speak maybe she see you in her mind. You always there. I know. I have son too. I have Michiya. He always in my head. Like Kimi. They dead for sure, but they in my head. They in my head forever."

"Secrets are lies by another name."