You can understand nothing about art, particularly modern art, if you do not understand that imagination is a value in itself.

In the political jargon of those days, the word "intellectual" was an insult. It indicated someone who did not understand life and was cut off from the people. All the Communists who were hanged at the time by other Communists were awarded such abuse. Unlike those who had their feet solidly on the ground, they were said to float in the air. So it was fair, in a way, that as punishment the ground was permanently pulled out from under their feet, that they remained suspended a little above the floor.

Only after a while did it occur to me (in spite of the chilly silence which surrounded me) that my story was not of the tragic sort, but rather of the comic variety. At any rate that afforded me some comfort.

People are going deaf because music is played louder and louder, but because they're going deaf, it has to be played louder still.

The only reason people want to be masters of the future is to change the past.

Metaphors are dangerous. Love begins with a metaphor

Is a novel anything but a trap set for a hero?