This is the most intimate relationship between literature and its readers: they treat the text as a part of themselves, as a possession.

I remember that during the period leading up to independence in Angola in 1975, I was the only correspondent there at all for three months.

The official independence celebration was going to be held over four or five days, and a group of journalists from all over the world was allowed to fly in, because Angola was closed otherwise.

Money changes all the iron rules into rubber bands.

My writing is a combination of three elements. The first is travel: not travel like a tourist, but travel as exploration. The second is reading literature on the subject. The third is reflection.

The tradition of Russian literature is also an eastern tradition of learning poetry and prose by heart.

Our salvation is in striving to achieve what we know we'll never achieve.

More than anything, one is struck by the light. Light everywhere. Brightness everywhere. Everywhere, the sun.

Photographing expresses human desire to preserve passing time. It is like a man struggling with time that elapses, and in general - a desire to preserve oneself.

In order to feel contempt, you generally need to cherish some kind of feelings.

Our job is like a baker's work - his rolls are tasty as long as they're fresh; after two days they're stale; after a week, they're covered with mould and fit only to be thrown out.

A blown kiss is not a proper kiss. Hugs and kisses should be hugs and kisses, not breaths of air. I am tired of breaths of air and not enough hugs and kisses.

If you want sweet dreams, you've got to live a sweet life.

Poetry is probably the last gift economy. Part of the negotiation is to understand that you're going to do something you really want to do, so you're going to take whatever life comes with that.

Justice is what love looks like in public.

The simple lack of her is more to me than others' presence.

I don't see any need to unduly burden the taxpayer.

The spring of 1930 marks the end of a period of grave concern...American business is steadily coming back to a normal level of prosperity.

As long as we’ve got somewhere to sleep, a bowl of cereal, and a coloring book we’ll be fine.

And as Dad said to me, 'You can't always stop people from being mean. But you can stop them from making you mean.

Whether that's an action film or a comedy or a drama or anything in between, I'm willing to prove that I can play with the big boys.