Hosni Mubarak... his constitution is not democratic, but he is democratic. We can voice our opinions now. The press is free.

It's clearly more important to treat one's fellow man well than to be always praying and fasting and touching one's head to a prayer mat.

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

Excessive concern with religion seems to me a last resort for people who have been exhausted by life.

In Egypt today most people are concerned with getting bread to eat. Only some of the educated understand how democracy works.

When you spend time with your friends, what do you talk about? Those things which made an impression on you that day, that week ... I write stories the same way. Events at home, in school, at work, in the street, these are the bases for a story. Some experiences leave such a deep impression that instead of talking about them at the club I work them into a novel.

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.