I primarily write nonfiction. Research, reflection, and spending time with ideas are important to me. So, this is how I spend most of my time writing - in thought.

One that actually relates to all Latin American literature: that is, not every author is interested in being a representative of his or her national culture on the global stage.

I only translate authors whose work already interests me as a reader, and that's a decision I make based on multiple encounters with an author's work.

I am not one of those translators who think that working closely with the writer will yield the best translation.

Before I fix the world, I have to fix myself.

You make an open-ended proposition and the audience completes it somehow. That’s what you hope an artwork to be-a constantly living thing.

Pick the assumptions to pieces till the stuff they are made of is exposed to plain view - this is the cardinal rule for understanding the basis of our beliefs.

Right is not only to act within the law. It's to also act according to the conscience.

I think hell's a real place where real people spend a real eternity.

There were days when I would say, 'God, I can't be without Leo'. He was my rock. We were such a team, nothing could break us, nothing could come near us.

Life is a miracle, and being aware of simply this can already make us very happy.

I've never felt like I had anything important to say.

She's as fetching as brown hair done up with ribbons blue The mountain, my lady She's as sweet as pink flowers made bright with morning dew, Mount Eskel, my lady

Is he on his horse? O happy horse, to bear the weight of Antony!