No matter how ephemeral it is, a novel is something, while despair is nothing.

Quote by Mario Vargas Llosa

Topics: Mario Vargas Llosa Quotes

Eroticism has its own moral justification because it says that pleasure is enough for me;...

Eroticism has its own moral justification because it says that pleasure is enough for me;...

Since it is impossible to know what's really happening, we Peruvians lie, invent, dream and...

Since it is impossible to know what's really happening, we Peruvians lie, invent, dream and...

Maintain democracy or go to dictatorship: that is what is at stake in these elections.

Maintain democracy or go to dictatorship: that is what is at stake in these elections.

Prosperity or egalitarianism - you have to choose. I favor freedom - you never achieve...

Prosperity or egalitarianism - you have to choose. I favor freedom - you never achieve...

Writing a book is a very lonely business. You are totally cut off from the...

Writing a book is a very lonely business. You are totally cut off from the...

It isn't true that convicts live like animals: animals have more room to move around.

It isn't true that convicts live like animals: animals have more room to move around.

If you are killed because you are a writer, that's the maximum expression of respect,...

If you are killed because you are a writer, that's the maximum expression of respect,...

Self-respect is the fruit of discipline; the sense of dignity grows with the ability to...

Self-respect is the fruit of discipline; the sense of dignity grows with the ability to...

Respect for one's parents is the highest duty of civil life.

Respect for one's parents is the highest duty of civil life.

That love is reverence, and worship, and glory, and the upward glance. Not a bandage...

That love is reverence, and worship, and glory, and the upward glance. Not a bandage...

Making music to me is so much more important than being a star. If I...

Making music to me is so much more important than being a star. If I...

Being brilliant is no great feat if you respect nothing.

Being brilliant is no great feat if you respect nothing.

There are two sorts of affection - the love of a woman you respect, and...

There are two sorts of affection - the love of a woman you respect, and...

Respectable means rich, and decent means poor. I should die if I heard my family...

Respectable means rich, and decent means poor. I should die if I heard my family...

Would that there were an award for people who come to understand the concept of...

Would that there were an award for people who come to understand the concept of...

The first duty of love is to listen.

The first duty of love is to listen.

You have too much respect upon the world: They lose it that do buy it...

You have too much respect upon the world: They lose it that do buy it...

Compassionate action involves working with ourselves as much as working with others.

Compassionate action involves working with ourselves as much as working with others.

More than in any other performing arts the lack of respect for acting seems to...

More than in any other performing arts the lack of respect for acting seems to...

Respect for character is always diminished in proportion to the number among whom the blame...

Respect for character is always diminished in proportion to the number among whom the blame...

Good writers define reality; bad ones merely restate it. A good writer turns fact into...

Good writers define reality; bad ones merely restate it. A good writer turns fact into...

Writing is the only profession where no one considers you ridiculous if you earn no...

Writing is the only profession where no one considers you ridiculous if you earn no...