Woe to that nation whose literature is disturbed by the intervention of power. Because that is not just a violation against "freedom of print," it is the closing down of the heart of the nation, a slashing to pieces of its memory.

Our envy of others devours us most of all.

One can build the Empire State Building, discipline the Prussian army, make a state hierarchy mightier than God, yet fail to overcome the unaccountable superiority of certain human beings.

I dare hope that all the peoples who have lived through communism will understand that communism is to blame for the bitter pages of their history.

The thoughts of a prisoner - they're not free either. They keep returning to the same things.

In our age, when technology is gaining control over life, when material well-being is considered the most important goal, when the influence of religion has been weakened everywhere in the world, a special responsibility lies upon the writer.

Surely people should eventually cease to be surprised at anything? And yet they continue to be.