Magic becomes art when it has nothing to hide. Ben Okri on art
I am not fighting for success, just to get more beauty out of myself and share it with more people. Ben Okri on beauty
Don't despair too much if you see beautiful things destroyed, if you see them perish. Because the best things are always growing in secret. Ben Okri on best
The best writing is not about the writer, the best writing is absolutely not about the writer, it's about us, it's about the reader. Ben Okri on best
I was born left-handed, but I was made to use my other hand. When I was writing 'Famished Road,' which was very long, I got repetitive stress syndrome. My right wrist collapsed, so I started using my left hand. The prose I wrote with my left hand came out denser, so later on I had to change it. Ben Okri on change
One of the greatest gifts my father gave me - unintentionally - was witnessing the courage with which he bore adversity. We had a bit of a rollercoaster life with some really challenging financial periods. He was always unshaken, completely tranquil, the same ebullient, laughing, jovial man. Ben Okri on courage
The higher the artist, the fewer the gestures. The fewer the tools, the greater the imagination. The greater the will, the greater the secret failure. Ben Okri on failure
Stories can conquer fear, you know. They can make the heart bigger. Ben Okri on fear
The strange thing about Africa is how past, present and future come together in a kind of rough jazz, if you like. Ben Okri on future
The higher the artist, the fewer the gestures. The fewer the tools, the greater the imagination. The greater the will, the greater the secret failure. Ben Okri on imagination
The most authentic thing about us is our capacity to create, to overcome, to endure, to transform, to love and to be greater than our suffering. Ben Okri on inspirational
The most authentic thing about us is our capacity to create, to overcome, to endure, to transform, to love and to be greater than our suffering. Ben Okri on love
I'm conscious of a series of circles working its way through my life. And at this particular moment I have come round to the beginning of my writing cycle. It begins with poetry. There's hardly a day that goes past on which I don't write poetry. Ben Okri on poetry
Politics is the art of the possible creativity is the art of the impossible. Ben Okri on politics
I am not fighting for success, just to get more beauty out of myself and share it with more people. Ben Okri on success