Before my birth there was infinite time, and after my death, inexhaustible time. I never thought of it before: I'd been living luminously between two eternities of darkness. Orhan Pamuk More Quotes by Orhan Pamuk More Quotes From Orhan Pamuk Over time, I have come to see the work of literature less as narrating the world than "seeing the world with words." From the moment he begins to use words like colors in a painting, a writer can begin to see how wondrous and surprising the world is, and he breaks the bones of language to find his own voice. For this he needs paper, a pen, and the optimism of a child looking at the world for the first time. Orhan Pamuk voice color children I don’t like to make strong statements. I want to write strong novels … I keep my deep radical things for my novels. Orhan Pamuk strong want writing I do not believe in a personal connection to God; that's where it gets transcendental. Orhan Pamuk transcendental connections believe I certainly see myself more as a craftsman than as an artist. Orhan Pamuk craftsman artist Istanbul is a vast place. There are very conservative neighbourhoods, there are places that are upper class, Westernised, consuming Western culture. Orhan Pamuk western-culture istanbul class The writers secret is not inspiration - for it is never clear where it comes from - it is his stubbornness, his patience. Orhan Pamuk stubbornness inspiration secret Oscar Wilde always makes me smile - with respect and admiration. His short stories prove that it is possible to be both sarcastic, even cynical, but deeply compassionate. Just seeing the cover of one of Wildes books in a bookshop makes me smile. Orhan Pamuk cynical sarcastic book We fall in love more deeply when were unhappy. Orhan Pamuk falling-in-love unhappy fall Life is short, and we should respect every moment of it. Orhan Pamuk life-is-short moments life-is We're not stupid! We're just poor! And we have a right to insist on this distinction Orhan Pamuk distinction poor stupid Ka found it very soothing: for the first time in years, he felt part of a family. In spite of the trials and responsibilities of what was called 'family', he saw now the joys of its unyielding togetherness, and was sorry not to have known more of it in his life. Orhan Pamuk responsibility sorry years Happiness is laughing together. Orhan Pamuk laughing-together together laughing Clocks and calendars do not exist to remind us of the Time we've forgotten but to regulate our relations with others and indeed all of society, and this is how we use them. Orhan Pamuk calendars use forgotten I think perhaps it is a generational thing. I talk to younger people and they say, Where is this melancholy city you talk about My Istanbul is a sunny place. Orhan Pamuk istanbul cities thinking Turks have a dismissive phrase: he works like a clerk. I have turned this insult around: I am proud to say that I work like a clerk. Orhan Pamuk optimistic clerks work Well, on the one hand the Turks have the legitimate need to defend their national dignity - and this includes being recognized as a part of the west and Europe. Orhan Pamuk europe hands needs All great masters, in their work, seek that profound void within color and outside time. Orhan Pamuk void color profound As soon as I observed myself from outside myself, I recognized and understood that I had a long-standing habit of keeping an eye on myself. That's how I managed to pull myself together, over the years, checking myself from the outside. Orhan Pamuk eye long years There's been quite a clear upswing in nationalist sentiments. Everyone is talking about it, in Turkey as well. Orhan Pamuk turkeys clear talking How different from the cosy world of Rüya's detective novels, where authors never vexed a hero with more signs than he needed. Orhan Pamuk different hero world
