I did not succeed in everything I did. And even where it did seem I was succeeding it was not always the case. The human heart has a million facets.

Life can give everything to whoever tries to understand and is willing to receive new knowledge.

An educated person must learn to act justly, beginning, first of all, with his thoughts, then later in his deeds. That is what it means to be educated.

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

You must first of all think justly. Don’t sit in judgment over others when you don’t know the truth of the matter.

My words, my writing, my actions—these have never been for myself alone, either directly or indirectly. There is no such thing as an artist who creates art only for himself. That is masturbation.

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.

Painting is literature in colors. Literature is painting in language.

The love I knew was from books.

Every book that is banned is a badge of honor.

I'll do as I please. My mind is not to be imprisoned.

Menulis itu peduli. Menulis itu mencinta.

I hated high school. I don’t trust anybody who looks back on the years from 14 to 18 with any enjoyment. If you liked being a teenager, there’s something wrong with you.

I get $13 [a week] now, because I’m 13.

Everything God does is love -even when we do not understand Him.

I try to live in a little bit of my own joy and not let people steal it or take it.

This is a very difficult thing to remain independent and persistent.

No male writer is likely to be asked to sit on a panel addressing itself to the special problems of a male writer.

Being ready isn't enough; you have to be prepared for a promotion or any other significant change.

Write whatever you like!

The Pall Mall Gazette is written by gentlemen for gentlemen.