Honore de Balzac Quotes

I'm not a spy, which is the real question

That’s the thing about spies. Most of the secrets we keep are from each other.

There are some who become spies for money, or out of vanity and megalomania, or out of ambition, or out of a desire for thrills. But the malady of our time is of those who become spies out of idealism.

You couldn't trust anyone or anything that belonged to the world of espionage.

Betrayal, in one form or another, is at the very heart of the world of intelligence.

I handed over names and compromised so many CIA agents in the Soviet Union.

Ask yourself: if I were a Chinese spy, why wouldn't I have flown directly into Beijing? I could be living in a palace petting a phoenix by now.

Having watched the form of our traitors for a number of years, I cannot think that espionage can be recommended as a technique for building an impressive civilization. It's a lout's game.

It is important to seek out the spies that the enemy has sent to spy on you so you can bribe them to really spy for you.

Intelligence is about lies. If something is legal and above board, you would not need the CIA to do it.

The life of spies is to know, not bee known.

Yet have I ever heard it said that spies and tale-bearers have done more mischief in this world than poisoned bowl or the assassin's dagger.

In the old days, spies had done they'd done because they loved their country, because they believed in what they were doing. But he'd never been given a choice. Nowadays, spies weren't employed. They were used.

The Confederates had suspected Wild Bill of being a spy for two or three days, and had watched him closely.

We knew we were talking about spies. I knew he knew I knew. I was digging my own grave.

They were conspiring to desert us in the night and steal some of our horses... we engaged a spy.

However I dress it up, I was a spy and I am not proud of it.

I could have stopped it after they paid me the $50,000. I wouldn't even have had to go on to do more than I already had: just the double agents' names that I gave.

It is essential to seek out enemy agents who have come to conduct espionage against you and to bribe them to serve you. Give them instructions and care for them. Thus doubled agents are recruited and used.

The creation of George Smiley, the retired spy recalled to hunt for just such a high-ranking mole in 'Tinker, Tailor,' was extremely personal. I borrowed elements of people I admired and invested them in this mythical character. I'm such a fluent, specious person now, but I was an extremely awkward fellow in those days.

It was awesome and liberating to play a Russian spy.

Military intelligence is a contradiction in terms.

I've always wanted to play a spy, because it is the ultimate acting exercise. You are never what you seem.

Spy plots are hard, really hard.

Anyone who tells you he deals with the CIA is either a fool (for admitting it) or a braggart.