I never wanted to be rich or successful or famous. I just wanted to be happy and have fun.

- Donna Leon

favors are always for ourselves. Especially when we ask for things for other people.

- Donna Leon

And off in the far distance, the gold on the wings of the angel atop the bell tower of San Marco flashed in the sun, bathing the entire city in its g…

- Donna Leon

I never know what's going to happen in a novel. I don't have a plan or an outline.

- Donna Leon

This is a fallen world. People lie, the truth gets distorted, and that's the way it is. What's for dinner ?

- Donna Leon

Ruth Bader Ginsburg is the most liberal and illumined of the nine Justices of the U.S. Supreme Court.

- Donna Leon

I don't go to the movies because I don't like films.

- Donna Leon

The Germans and Austrians are very polite, the Swiss are very reserved and the Spanish usually kiss me. The Brits write me letters.

- Donna Leon

So much of contemporary crime fiction is painful to read and obsessed with violence, particularly against women, and I can't read that.

- Donna Leon