I have learned since that sometimes the things we want most are impossible for us. You may long to come home, yet wander forever.

Can you imagine a writer in England influencing? Absolutely not. And in France? It used to be, but no more-absolutely not. France used to, at least, have writers as diplomats, but not any more.

You can't be afraid to do good in case evil results.

As writers, we are exploring the mystery, the mystery of existence.

The truth isn't always beauty, but the hunger for it is.

Mumbling obeisance to abhorrence of apartheid is like those lapsed believers who cross themselves when entering a church.

If people would forget about utopia! When rationalism destroyed heaven and decided to set it up here on earth, that most terrible of all goals entered human ambition. It was clear there'd be no end to what people would be made to suffer for it.