I'd thought sexuality was instinctive or natural, but it's profoundly linked to inner security and cultural context.

Quote by Tahar Ben Jelloun

Topics: Tahar Ben Jelloun Quotes

Real friendship, like real poetry, is extremely rare - and precious as a pearl.

Real friendship, like real poetry, is extremely rare - and precious as a pearl.

Egypt has suffered more ordeals than the other countries to get where it is.

Egypt has suffered more ordeals than the other countries to get where it is.

For me, poetry is a situation - a state of being, a way of facing...

For me, poetry is a situation - a state of being, a way of facing...

It is impossible to disregard such an important medium as television. We should know how...

It is impossible to disregard such an important medium as television. We should know how...

We do not have many intellectuals who can speak out for us internationally. We have...

We do not have many intellectuals who can speak out for us internationally. We have...

In the Arab world, there is no link between the cultural habits of peoples and...

In the Arab world, there is no link between the cultural habits of peoples and...

New ideas should confront old ideas. We must refer to the example of Europe. People...

New ideas should confront old ideas. We must refer to the example of Europe. People...

Poetry is a form of mathematics, a highly rigorous relationship with words.

Poetry is a form of mathematics, a highly rigorous relationship with words.

I liked Sartre's views but not his writing.

I liked Sartre's views but not his writing.

My characters are driven by a passionate desire for justice. They are rebellious and incorruptible.

My characters are driven by a passionate desire for justice. They are rebellious and incorruptible.

The mistake we make is to attribute to religions the errors and fanaticism of human...

The mistake we make is to attribute to religions the errors and fanaticism of human...

In the '70s I was in exile; every time I went back I wondered if...

In the '70s I was in exile; every time I went back I wondered if...

I write about wounds, the eternal treasons of life. It's not very funny, but it's...

I write about wounds, the eternal treasons of life. It's not very funny, but it's...

I do not use the language of my people. I can take liberties with certain...

I do not use the language of my people. I can take liberties with certain...

Religion has to stay in the heart, not in politics. It is private.

Religion has to stay in the heart, not in politics. It is private.

My sensibility steers me toward writers who are out on their own.

My sensibility steers me toward writers who are out on their own.

This universe can very well be expressed in words and syllables which are not those...

This universe can very well be expressed in words and syllables which are not those...

A modern civilization is only possible when it is accepted that singular beings exist and...

A modern civilization is only possible when it is accepted that singular beings exist and...

The world does not look to us in the Arab world out of a healthy...

The world does not look to us in the Arab world out of a healthy...

We must stop posing as victims of the West and behaving negatively towards the West....

We must stop posing as victims of the West and behaving negatively towards the West....