One effect that the Nobel Prize seems to have had is that more Arabic literary works have been translated into other languages.

Madness is the acme of intelligence.

The real malady is fear of life, not of death

You can tell whether a man is clever by his answers. You can tell whether a man is wise by his questions.

At my age it is unseemly to be pessimistic.

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.

I defend both the freedom of expression and society's right to counter it. I must pay the price for differing. It is the natural way of things.