At last I understood that the way over, or through this dilemma, the unease at writing about 'petty personal problems' was to recognize that nothing is personal, in the sense that it is uniquely one's own. Writing about oneself, one is writing about others, since your problems, pains, pleasures, emotions—and your extraordinary and remarkable ideas—can't be yours alone. [...] Growing up is after all only the understanding that one's unique and incredible experience is what everyone shares.

I hate Iran. I hate the Iranian government. It's a cruel and evil government.

I'm always astounded at the way we automatically look at what divides and separates us. We never look at what people have in common.

When the print revolution occurred 400 years ago, human beings lost a certain mental capacity, including a sense of memory. In Africa today, you meet people who still carry everything in their heads, the way we used to. We rely on telephone books, address books. We have to look up everything.

Think wrongly, if you please, but in all cases think for yourself.

There is only one real sin and that is to persuade oneself that the second best is anything but second best.

If you read, you can learn to think for yourself.