I believe society has a right to defend itself, just as the individual has the right to attack that with which he disagrees.

Next quotes

• Naguib Mahfouz:

  I consider Khomeini's position dangerous. He does not have the right to pass judgment-that is not t

• Naguib Mahfouz:

  I defend both the freedom of expression and society's right to counter it. I must pay the price for

• Naguib Mahfouz:

  I didn't make any money from my writing until much later. I published about 80 stories for nothing.

• Naguib Mahfouz:

  I love Sufism as I love beautiful poetry, but it is not the answer. Sufism is like a mirage in the

• Naguib Mahfouz:

  I reject any path which rejects life, but I can't help loving Sufism because it sounds so beautiful

• Naguib Mahfouz:

  I thought they would never select an Eastern writer for the Nobel. I was surprised.

• Naguib Mahfouz:

  I wake up early in the morning and walk for an hour. If I have something to write, I prefer to writ

• Naguib Mahfouz:

  I was a government employee in the morning and a writer in the evening.

• Naguib Mahfouz:

  I was reading a lot of books I admired, and thought that I would like to write something like that

• Naguib Mahfouz:

  I was suffering from a peculiar and persistent sense that I was being pursued, and also the convict