I found myself in a sea in which the waves of joy and sorrow were clashing against each other.

If you want to move people, you look for a point of sensitivity, and in Egypt nothing moves people as much as religion.

I was afraid of marriage. I had the impression married life would take up all my time. I saw myself drowning in visits and parties. No freedom.

As the tension eases, we must look in the direction of agriculture, industry and education as our final goals, and toward democracy under Mr Mubarak.

The Arab world also won the Nobel with me. I believe that international doors have opened, and that from now on, literate people will consider Arab literature also. We deserve that recognition.

In the calculus of good deeds you have the most to gain.

Visit me once each year, for it's wrong to abandon people forever.