We have no Arab intellectuals of international stature because we live in a state of generalized mediocrity. We are suspended in the pit without touching the bottom.

Quote by Tahar Ben Jelloun

Topics: Tahar Ben Jelloun Quotes

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

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

Intellectuals try to keep going. But their situation is very difficult. Those who have had...

Intellectuals try to keep going. But their situation is very difficult. Those who have had...

Beauty is first and foremost an emotion.

Beauty is first and foremost an emotion.

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...

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...

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...

The power of the word in Morocco belonged to men and to the authorities. No...

The power of the word in Morocco belonged to men and to the authorities. No...

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.

Poetry is not only a set of words which are chosen to relate to each...

Poetry is not only a set of words which are chosen to relate to each...

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...

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.

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...

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.

I am a Moroccan writer of French expression.

I am a Moroccan writer of French expression.

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...

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...

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...

We must have our say, not through violence, aggression or fear. We must speak out...

We must have our say, not through violence, aggression or fear. We must speak out...

I liked Sartre's views but not his writing.

I liked Sartre's views but not his writing.

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...