Quotes By Naguib Mahfouz

The writer interweaves a story with his own doubts, questions, and values. That is art.

I was reading a lot of books I admired, and thought that I would like to write something like that someday.

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

An allegory is not meant to be taken literally. There is a great lack of comprehension on the part of some readers.

God did not intend religion to be an exercise club.

According to Islamic principles, when a man is accused of heresy, he is given the choice between repentance and punishment.

I was a government employee in the morning and a writer in the evening.

I didn't make any money from my writing until much later. I published about 80 stories for nothing. I spent on literature.

One effect that the Nobel Prize seems to have had is that more Arabic literary works have been translated into other languages.

Hosni Mubarak... his constitution is not democratic, but he is democratic. We can voice our opinions now. The press is free.

I defend both the freedom of expression and society's right to counter it. I must pay the price for differing. It is the natural way of things.

I've never worked in politics, never been a member of an official committee or a political party.

Sadat made us feel more secure.

I consider Khomeini's position dangerous. He does not have the right to pass judgment-that is not the Islamic way.

Insults are the business of the court.

I wake up early in the morning and walk for an hour. If I have something to write, I prefer to write in the morning until midday, and in the afternoon, I eat.

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