I've had nothing to do with the intelligence world since I left it, in any shade or variety.

John le Carré’s quote expresses a clear separation between himself and the intelligence world following his departure from it. He states that since leaving, he has had no involvement in any aspect of intelligence, whether in government or in any form related to espionage. This remark reflects his desire to distance himself from the world of spycraft and the often murky and morally complex world that he had once been part of.

The quote highlights le Carré’s deep sense of disengagement from the profession that once influenced much of his writing. Although he had worked as a spy for both the British Secret Service and MI6, he made a conscious choice to leave the field and immerse himself in literature. His novels, such as The Spy Who Came in from the Cold and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, were largely influenced by his own experiences, but the quote underscores his intention to no longer be associated with the intelligence community after his retirement.

Le Carré’s background in intelligence informed his fiction, where he explored the moral ambiguities and psychological toll of espionage. However, this quote signifies that he did not wish to continue in any capacity with that world after he left it. His writing allowed him to process and reflect on his time within the intelligence services, but he deliberately distanced himself from that past once his career in espionage ended.

Ultimately, the quote reveals le Carré’s personal stance on his past involvement in intelligence, emphasizing that he left it behind completely, having moved on to become a respected writer. It also hints at his discomfort or disillusionment with the world of espionage, which he famously critiqued through his literary works.