I think writers write for their consciences, they write for their own true audiences, for their souls.

Loneliness and hunger were my fortunes of creation.

For a country boy, poor as I was, whose constant worry was to be able to have enough to eat, the Army guaranteed one's survival.

People who are strangers to liquor are incapable of talking about literature.

I have always been independent. I like it that way. When someone forces me to do something, I don't do it.

I heard so many stories from Gaomi's peasants that I had an irrepressible urge to write them down. Today, Gaomi's peasants know that they have become famous around the world through my writings, but I think they are a little puzzled by this.

When I write, I try to represent the ordinary person in the pew, which means that, ironically, I'm qualified to write about prayer by being unqualified!