I always ask two questions: How many countries have military bases in the United States? And in how many countries does the United States not have military bases?

I am a better novelist than a poet, playwright, or essayist.

Words have their own hierarchy, their own protocol, their own artistic titles, their own plebeian stigmas.

There are such moments in life, when, in order for heaven to open, it is necessary for a door to close.

There are times when it is best to be content with what one has, so as not to lose everything.

Words were not given to man in order to conceal his thoughts.

A writer is a man like any other: he dreams. And my dream was to be able to say of this book, when I finished: 'This is a book about Alentejo.'