[explaining the gaps in his employment history] Yes, I can. The truth -- well, the truth is that I've had a long-standing problem with heroin addiction. I've been known to sniff it, smoke it, swallow it, stick it up my arse and inject it into my veins. I've been trying to combat this addiction, but unless you count social security scams and shoplifting, I haven't had a regular job in years. I feel it's important to mention this.

Young Renton noticed the haste with which the successful in the sexual sphere, as in all others, segregated themselves from the failures.

At, or around this time, Spud, Sick Boy and I made a healthy, informed, democratic decision to get back on heroin as soon as possible.

No thank you. I'll proceed directly to the intravenous injection of hard drugs please.

There was no such thing as society and even if there was, I most certainly had nothing to do with it. (Himself quoting Margaret Thatcher, from Women's Own magazine, October 31 1987.)

We called him Mother Superior on account of the length of his habit.

Begbie didn't do drugs either. He just did people. That's what he got off on; his own sensory addiction.