Naguib Mahfouz
Naguib Mahfouz
Naguib Mahfouzwas an Egyptian writer who won the 1988 Nobel Prize for Literature. He is regarded as one of the first contemporary writers of Arabic literature, along with Tawfiq el-Hakim, to explore themes of existentialism. He published 34 novels, over 350 short stories, dozens of movie scripts, and five plays over a 70-year career. Many of his works have been made into Egyptian and foreign films...
NationalityEgyptian
ProfessionNovelist
Date of Birth11 December 1911
CityCairo, Egypt
CountryEgypt
Naguib Mahfouz quotes about
If the urge to write should ever leave me, I want that day to be my last.
Without literature my life would be miserable.
We used the Western style to express our own themes and stories. But don't forget that our heritage includes The Thousand and One Nights.
One effect that the Nobel Prize seems to have had is that more Arabic literary works have been translated into other languages.
I was afraid of marriage. I had the impression married life would take up all my time. I saw myself drowning in visits and parties. No freedom.
Freedom of expression must be considered sacred and thought can only be corrected by counter thought.
The Nobel Prize has given me, for the first time in my life, the feeling that my literature could be appreciated on an international level.
I thought they would never select an Eastern writer for the Nobel. I was surprised.
It's clearly more important to treat one's fellow man well than to be always praying and fasting and touching one's head to a prayer mat.
I am the son of two civilizations that at a certain age in history have formed a happy marriage. The first of these, seven thousand years old, is the Pharaonic civilization; the second, one thousand four hundred years old, is the Islamic civilization.
It's not surprising that truly humanitarian manifestos originate frequently in minority circles or with people whose consciences are troubled by the problems of minorities.
I consider Khomeini's position dangerous. He does not have the right to pass judgment-that is not the Islamic way.
I've never worked in politics, never been a member of an official committee or a political party.
I didn't make any money from my writing until much later. I published about 80 stories for nothing. I spent on literature.