When I see what is happening all over the world today - the violence - the stupid, arrogant, grotesque violence that is dominating humankind. I cannot not remember that there were other times, of course [the Second World War]. I never compare.

When I say it doesn't make much difference, I mean in terms of the importance of the piece of literature.

The danger lies in forgetting.

A word is worth a thousand pictures.

..you do not leave a library; if you do what it wants you to do, you are taking it with you.

When you listen to a witness, you become a witness.

I don't speak about my pain. My pain is something that doesn't need to be purged. I want to prevent people from suffering. I don't speak about my suffering. Suffering is something personal and discreet. Also, I know it will never leave me. I don't want it to leave me. It would be a betrayal.