I am somewhat of a meliorist. That is to say, I act as an optimist because I find I cannot act at all, as a pessimist. One often feels helpless in the face of the confusion of these times, such a mass of apparently uncontrollable events and experiences to live through, attempt to understand, and if at all possible, give order to; but one must not withdraw from the task if he has some small things to offer - he does so at the risk of diminishing his humanity.

A writer is a spectator, looking at everything with a highly critical eye.

We have in my country (Russia) a quotation: "It is impossible to make out of apology a fur coat.

Without heroes, we are all plain people and don't know how far we can go.

I work with language. I love the flowers of afterthought.

There comes a time in a man's life when to get where he has to go - if there are no doors or windows he walks through a wall.

The wild begins where you least expect it, one step off your normal course