Where there's life, death is inevitable. Dying's easy; it's living that's hard. The harder it gets, the stronger the will to live. And the greater the fear of death, the greater the struggle to keep on living.

I am also well aware that literature only has a minimal influence on political disputes or economic crises in the world, but its significance to human beings is ancient.

Possibly because I've lived so much of my life in difficult circumstances, I think I have a more profound understanding of life.

I know what real courage is, and I understand true compassion.

A writer writes what he knows, in ways that are natural to him.

The act of giving voice to this spiritual suffering is, in my view, the sacred duty of the writer.

No person writes to win awards.