Gunter Grass
Gunter Grass
Günter Wilhelm Grasswas a German novelist, poet, playwright, illustrator, graphic artist, sculptor, and recipient of the 1999 Nobel Prize in Literature...
NationalityGerman
ProfessionNovelist
Date of Birth16 October 1927
CountryGermany
against age altogether begins life literary memory observe plays principle reinvent tend terms time tricks
Over the years, I had something in principle against autobiographical writing altogether because memory plays tricks on us, and we also tend to reinvent ourselves. But there comes an age when one begins to observe life, and there are things that need time to mature, also in terms of literary form.
amidst beyond books corner early imagine learned
My sister and I did not have our own rooms, or even a place to ourselves. In the living room, beyond the two windows, was a little corner where my books were kept, and other thing - my watercolors and so on. Often I had to imagine the things I needed. I learned very early to read amidst noise.
account behind determined existence guests leave nuclear period recognise short spend
If we take into account the existence of our planet, we have to recognise that we are guests that spend a short and very determined period in this world, and all we leave behind is nuclear waste.
brought catholic moved religion
I was brought up Catholic and know the stench of the Catholic Church. I moved away from religion early, but the impression remains.
things-change translators translations
Translation is that which transforms everything so that nothing changes.
nice color play
And when the sun goes down and the mood comes upon me, I'll watch the play of the colors on the water, yield to the fleetly dissolving images, and turn into pure feeling, all soft and nice....
routine sin
How easily the routine of sin establishes itself.
skins germany campaigns
What I do is sometimes - at least in Germany - met with wounding campaigns. I always face the question: should I grow myself a thick skin and ignore it, or should I let myself be wounded? I've decided to be wounded, since, if I grew a thick skin, there are other things I wouldn't feel any more.
communication loss expression
Removed from its more restrictive sense, masturbation has become an expression for everything that has proved, for lack of human contact, to be void of meaning. We have communication problems, suffer from egocentrism and narcissism, are frustrated by information glut and loss of environment; we stagnate despite the rising GNP.
achievement want students
Students who don't want to get anywhere are sure to get somewhere.
triumph satan virtue
When Satan's not in the mood, virtue triumphs. Hasn't even Satan a right not to be in the mood once in a while?
weed running flower
When the young woman leans over the sky, about to water the flowers as well as the weeds, her white front splits open until her milk runs.
generations socialism grew
I belonged to the generation that grew up under National Socialism, and was blinded and led astray - and allowed itself to be led astray.
auschwitz explanation ifs
Even if surrounded with explanations, Auschwitz can never be grasped.