“But a human being, she, she, cannot simply exist; she is a hurricane, every thought bending and crossing its coherence inside her, nothing will let her be, not for a moment. Every emotion, every thought, is invaded by another.”

“The solitude of writing is also quite frightening. It's quite close to madness, one just disappears for a day and loses touch.”

“A truly living human being cannot remain neutral.”

“How did I find out? I was deceiving him.”

“I would be guilty only if I were innocent of working to destroy racism in my country.”

“Communists are the last optimists.”

“I am an African. I am white. I, in my humble way, and others in their much more brave way, have earned that right.”

“I'm an atheist. I wouldn't even call myself an agnostic. I am an atheist.”

“Death is really the mystery of life, isn't it?”

“You can't change a regime on the basis of compassion. There's got to be something harder.”

“I don't cry. Unfortunately, I seem rather short of tears, so my sorrows have to stay inside me.”