I am also well aware that literature only has a minimal influence on political disputes or economic crises in the world, but its significance to human beings is ancient.

A writer should bury his thoughts deep and convey them through the characters in his novel.

Where there's life, death is inevitable. Dying's easy; it's living that's hard. The harder it gets, the stronger the will to live. And the greater the fear of death, the greater the struggle to keep on living.

Some may want to shout on the street, but we should tolerate those who hide in their rooms and use literature to voice their opinions.

When I write, I try to represent the ordinary person in the pew, which means that, ironically, I'm qualified to write about prayer by being unqualified!

The act of giving voice to this spiritual suffering is, in my view, the sacred duty of the writer.

I have always been independent. I like it that way. When someone forces me to do something, I don't do it.