At my age it is unseemly to be pessimistic. Naguib Mahfouz on age
We are like a woman with a difficult pregnancy. We have to rebuild the social classes in Egypt, and we must change the way things were. Naguib Mahfouz on change
As the tension eases, we must look in the direction of agriculture, industry and education as our final goals, and toward democracy under Mr Mubarak. Naguib Mahfouz on education
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. Naguib Mahfouz on freedom
God did not intend religion to be an exercise club. Naguib Mahfouz on funny
God did not intend religion to be an exercise club. Naguib Mahfouz on god
History is full of people who went to prison or were burned at the stake for proclaiming their ideas. Society has always defended itself. Naguib Mahfouz on history
Events at home, at work, in the street - these are the bases for a story. Naguib Mahfouz on home
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. Naguib Mahfouz on morning
I was a government employee in the morning and a writer in the evening. Naguib Mahfouz on morning
I accepted the interviews and encounters that had to be held with the media, but I would have preferred to work in peace. Naguib Mahfouz on peace
I love Sufism as I love beautiful poetry, but it is not the answer. Sufism is like a mirage in the desert. It says to you, come and sit, relax and enjoy yourself for a while. Naguib Mahfouz on poetry
I've never worked in politics, never been a member of an official committee or a political party. Naguib Mahfouz on politics
God did not intend religion to be an exercise club. Naguib Mahfouz on religion
If you want to move people, you look for a point of sensitivity, and in Egypt nothing moves people as much as religion. Naguib Mahfouz on religion
Today's interpretations of religion are often backward and contradict the needs of civilization. Naguib Mahfouz on religion
If we reject science, we reject the common man. Naguib Mahfouz on science
History is full of people who went to prison or were burned at the stake for proclaiming their ideas. Society has always defended itself. Naguib Mahfouz on society
I believe society has a right to defend itself, just as the individual has the right to attack that with which he disagrees. Naguib Mahfouz on society
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. Naguib Mahfouz on society