Nothing good ever happens by itself - it is achieved through striving, though this sometimes bears a high price.

As a writer, you live in permanent self-doubt; youre on permanent trial.

One can criticize the Israeli government, but it is not fair to judge the people of Israel.

Cervantes is the most important Spanish writer. But he is not the most representative of the Spanish. His irony, his sense of humor - they are too subtle to seem Spanish.

A few British suffragettes everybody laughed at started the cause of equality between men and women.

There are two types of stories: public and private.

I have absolute respect for Israel and people in Israel who are critical of their own country.

An idea like equality between men and women, which is now accepted in the West, is quite new.

If you think too much heaven within your mind, you may have no time for simple things in this life.

I want every peasant to have a chicken in his pot on Sundays.

Going to a concert is so overwhelming and the energy is amazing.

My first ever job after college was as a flight attendant. I wanted to travel and could not afford it, so I decided to get myself a job where I could travel. I did it for two years and had great fun.

In all those things which deal with people, be liberal, be human. In all those things which deal with the people's money or their economy or their form of government, be conservative.

A pessimist is just an optimist with experience.

I would not be happy to do what I do unless I felt that the large audience wanted it.

Who rules East Europe commands the Heartland; who rules the Heartland commands the World-Island; who rules the World-Island controls the world.

War is pillage versus resistance and if illusions of magnitude could be transmuted into ideals of magnanimity, peace might be realized.

Chess is like a delicious drug which offers such heavenly delights that they can never tear themselves away from it completely.