Literature is breathing. I teach literature the way someone else might teach First Aid. Gustavo Perez Firmat More Quotes by Gustavo Perez Firmat More Quotes From Gustavo Perez Firmat The fact that I Gustavo Perez Firmat wanted writing facts My writing, such as it is, grows out of my sense of discolation, I mean, dislocation. Having lost my place, I write to find my place, or to find once again that I have lost my place. Gustavo Perez Firmat writing lost mean I was born in Cuba but was made in the USA. Gustavo Perez Firmat cuba usa born Every book I think will be my last one because after finishing I have the sense that I've said all I have to say, but I always seem to find a new way of repeating myself. Gustavo Perez Firmat finishing book thinking My father's death took me to a place I had never been and a place I had never left. In his absence, I've had to rely more on myself. Gustavo Perez Firmat rely absence father I read fiction all the time. It's true that I don't like fantasy or science fiction. I like "realistic" novels, particularly those in which nothing much ever happens. Gustavo Perez Firmat realistic fantasy fiction I say that being a smart writer doesn't make you a good writer. There's obviously a difference between talent and intelligence. And it may be that at some point intelligence begins to impinge on talent, or talent on intelligence. Gustavo Perez Firmat smart differences may For me the path to the literary goes through the non - literary. For this reason it surprises me that I am a writer, or that people speak of me as a writer. I'm flattered, but I don't quite believe it. Gustavo Perez Firmat path believe people Teaching is my most reliable form of human contact. I love the opportunity to speak Spanish (which I don't do at home), the give-and-take with students, the surprises. One day you think you have the goods for a sensational class and it bombs. The next day you have nothing and the class turns out splendidly. Gustavo Perez Firmat teaching home opportunity I am a loner by nature, and then I'm a writer, which makes me twice a loner. Gustavo Perez Firmat loner When I was younger, I dreaded having to write. I would find every possible excuse not to sit down at the typewriter (this was a long time ago). As I've gotten older, I've learned to enjoy putting sentences together, though I still believe that writing, unlike sex, is always better after you're through. Gustavo Perez Firmat writing believe sex There's a Cuban saying: Bicho malo nunca muere. Loose translation: The good die young but the wicked live forever. It seems to apply to Fidel. I hope it applies to me. Gustavo Perez Firmat cuban wicked forever
