An allegory is not meant to be taken literally. There is a great lack of comprehension on the part of some readers.

My wife thought I deserved it, but I always thought the Nobel a Western prize.

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.

I believe society has a right to defend itself, just as the individual has the right to attack that with which he disagrees.

History is full of people who went to prison or were burned at the stake for proclaiming their ideas. Society has always defended itself.

Madness is the acme of intelligence.

It is simply not part of my culture to preserve notes. I have never heard of a writer preserving his early drafts.