The moment that you place blame somewhere, you undermine your resolve to change anything.

For a writer only one form of patriotism exists: his attitude toward language.

Out of Dostoevsky: Kafka. Out of Tolstoy: Margaret Mitchell. (in conversation, explaining his dislike for Tolstoy)

Russian talk of political evil is as natural as eating.

I was quite happy in Arkhangelsk.Subsequently, I was sent to a village. I liked it in its own way because it sounded to me very much like the tradition of a hired man in any world-class poem. That's what I was, a hired man. I was working for a collective farm.

I'm neither Catholic not Protestant. Protestant sounds good but I don't think I am.

The Constitution doesn't mention rain.