It is simply not part of my culture to preserve notes. I have never heard of a writer preserving his early drafts.

Quote by Naguib Mahfouz

Topics: Naguib Mahfouz Quotes

I defend both the freedom of expression and society's right to counter it. I must...

I defend both the freedom of expression and society's right to counter it. I must...

I was suffering from a peculiar and persistent sense that I was being pursued, and...

I was suffering from a peculiar and persistent sense that I was being pursued, and...

The Nobel Prize has given me, for the first time in my life, the feeling...

The Nobel Prize has given me, for the first time in my life, the feeling...

If you want to move people, you look for a point of sensitivity, and in...

If you want to move people, you look for a point of sensitivity, and in...

One effect that the Nobel Prize seems to have had is that more Arabic literary...

One effect that the Nobel Prize seems to have had is that more Arabic literary...

God did not intend religion to be an exercise club.

God did not intend religion to be an exercise club.

At my age it is unseemly to be pessimistic.

At my age it is unseemly to be pessimistic.

I was reading a lot of books I admired, and thought that I would like...

I was reading a lot of books I admired, and thought that I would like...

You can tell whether a man is clever by his answers. You can tell whether...

You can tell whether a man is clever by his answers. You can tell whether...

Winning Nobel imposed on me a lifestyle to which I am not used and which...

Winning Nobel imposed on me a lifestyle to which I am not used and which...

I love Sufism as I love beautiful poetry, but it is not the answer. Sufism...

I love Sufism as I love beautiful poetry, but it is not the answer. Sufism...

I reject any path which rejects life, but I can't help loving Sufism because it...

I reject any path which rejects life, but I can't help loving Sufism because it...

My wife thought I deserved it, but I always thought the Nobel a Western prize.

My wife thought I deserved it, but I always thought the Nobel a Western prize.

I thought they would never select an Eastern writer for the Nobel. I was surprised.

I thought they would never select an Eastern writer for the Nobel. I was surprised.

I believe society has a right to defend itself, just as the individual has the...

I believe society has a right to defend itself, just as the individual has the...

My countrymen have the right to shake my hand and talk to me if they...

My countrymen have the right to shake my hand and talk to me if they...

Insults are the business of the court.

Insults are the business of the court.

Events at home, at work, in the street - these are the bases for a...

Events at home, at work, in the street - these are the bases for a...

Hosni Mubarak... his constitution is not democratic, but he is democratic. We can voice our...

Hosni Mubarak... his constitution is not democratic, but he is democratic. We can voice our...

We used the Western style to express our own themes and stories. But don't forget...

We used the Western style to express our own themes and stories. But don't forget...