In this county, we had to walk, eat, sleep and love in fear. Herta Muller More Quotes by Herta Muller More Quotes From Herta Muller Only the demented would not have raised their hands in the great hall. They had exchanged fear for insanity". Herta Muller demented insanity hands When we don't speak, said Edgar, we become unbearable, and when we do, we make fools of ourselves. Herta Muller unbearable fool speak Literature speaks with everyone individually - it is personal property that stays inside our heads. And nothing speaks to us as forcefully as a book, which expects nothing in return other than that we think and feel. Herta Muller nothing feel think book If, in the very first pages, I'm forced to read gratuitous phrases or banal metaphors, I won't be able to get inside the story. Only if the sentences 'sparkle' can I get hooked. Herta Muller inside only story sparkle The more words we are allowed to take, the freer we become. If our mouth is banned, then we attempt to assert ourselves through gestures, even objects. They are more difficult to interpret, and take time before they arouse suspicion. Herta Muller mouth words difficult time In writing, one searches, and that is what keeps one writing, that one sees and experiences things from another angle entirely; one experiences oneself during the process of writing. Herta Muller things oneself process writing I never wanted to be a writer. Herta Muller writer never wanted I find any kind of 'organizing' very difficult. And that has irksome consequences when it comes to books, since I've often wound up buying books twice because I couldn't find what I already have in all my mess. Herta Muller consequences find mess difficult My first book, 'Nadirs,' was very important for me. I'll leave its literary worth for others to judge. But its publication in Berlin in 1984 gave me protection. As did the awards it won. The Romanian secret police could no longer treat me and my friends as though we were completely cut off from the rest of the world. And we no longer felt cut off. Herta Muller me friends police world We didn't have any books at home. Not even children's books or fairy tales. The only 'fantastic' stories came from religion class. And I took them all very literally, that God sees everything, and so I felt I was always being watched. Or that dead people were in Heaven right over our village. Herta Muller god home children religion Whatever I read went under my skin. I almost devoured the literature, which became like a road to discovery. Herta Muller skin whatever road literature I write in order to bear witness to life. Herta Muller bear write life order I speak a kind of Hapsburg language. Herta Muller language kind speak I learned Romanian very late, when I was fifteen, in town, and I wanted to learn it. I like the language very much. Herta Muller learn like late language Romanian is a very beautiful, sensual, poetic language. Herta Muller very language sensual beautiful Through writing, one experiences something different to what one experiences with the five senses one has because language is a different metier. Herta Muller something different language writing If I don't belong because of what I think and because of my opinions, then so be it. What can one do about it? One can't bend over backwards or pretend to be someone else just to belong. And in any case, it doesn't work. Once you no longer belong, it's over. Herta Muller someone think you work It was only against my mother's will that I attended the preparatory high school in the city. She wanted me to become a seamstress in the village. She knew that if I moved to the city, I would become corrupted. And I was. I started to read books. Herta Muller city me village mother Happiness may perhaps be shared. But not luck, sadly. Herta Muller perhaps luck may happiness I am a broken person. Herta Muller am person i-am broken
