I happen to be pretty productive when I am in jail. When you are in jail, you have to spend more time with yourself.

I don't write to give joy to readers but to give them a conscience.

The fracture of pencil still useful, but the fracture of soul, we couldn't use it, Mister.

I happen to be pretty productive when I am in jail. When you are in jail, you have to spend more time with yourself.

Let us see whether it is the New Order or me who will be the loser before Indonesian history. I have won. The New Order has fallen and my writings have been translated into 40 languages.

It's proper that people have friends, friendships without self-interest. Without friends, life is too lonely.

I will not close my eyes, neither those in my head nor those in my soul, as the ship carries me away, along with my future, my dreams, and my beliefs. Buru Island is no happy land somewhere; it's but a way station on my journey in life—though to believe even that much will require no small measure of hope.