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

Quote by Tahar Ben Jelloun

Topics: Tahar Ben Jelloun Quotes

I came to poetry through the urgent need to denounce injustice, exploitation, humiliation. I know...

I came to poetry through the urgent need to denounce injustice, exploitation, humiliation. I know...

Be vigilant, for nothing one achieves lasts forever.

Be vigilant, for nothing one achieves lasts forever.

What have we achieved since the end of the Second World War? We have allowed...

What have we achieved since the end of the Second World War? We have allowed...

I have written about the dispossessed, immigrants, the condition of women who do not enjoy...

I have written about the dispossessed, immigrants, the condition of women who do not enjoy...

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...

To lead a country, you must periodically hold a national consultation in which people representing...

To lead a country, you must periodically hold a national consultation in which people representing...

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

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

There are very few great poets in the world.

There are very few great poets in the world.

The intellectual, the man of thought, doubt and analysis, should give the best of himself.

The intellectual, the man of thought, doubt and analysis, should give the best of himself.

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...

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.

I liked Sartre's views but not his writing.

I liked Sartre's views but not his writing.

We have no Arab intellectuals of international stature because we live in a state of...

We have no Arab intellectuals of international stature because we live in a state of...

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...

I don't feel guilty about expressing myself in French; nor do I feel that I...

I don't feel guilty about expressing myself in French; nor do I feel that I...

It is through accepting other people in our own countries that we shall come to...

It is through accepting other people in our own countries that we shall come to...

My hope is that countries like Morocco will have investment to create work, so people...

My hope is that countries like Morocco will have investment to create work, so people...

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...

At 21, I discovered repression and injustice. The army would shoot students with real bullets.

At 21, I discovered repression and injustice. The army would shoot students with real bullets.

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...