Now the masses of Latin America are electing governments they feel can take forward the democratic reforms of the last 20 years, and transform them into social and economic reforms. This is, I think, extremely important, because it also means that the left has abandoned the revolutionary solution proposed by Che Guevara and has taken the democratic path.

The United States condoned dictatorships in Latin America for much of the 20th century.

Death is the great Maecenas, Death is the great angel of writing. You must write because you are not going to live any more.

Recognize yourself in he and she who are not like you and me.

Writing is a struggle against silence.

By its very nature, the novel indicates that we are becoming. There is no final solution. There is no last word.

I discovered very quickly that criticism is a form of optimism, and that when you are silent about the shortcomings of your society, you're very pessimistic about that society. And it's only when you speak truthfully about it that you show your faith in that society.