"I am a novelist, not an activist... But I think that no one who reads what I write or who listens to my lectures can doubt that I am enlisted in the freedom movement. As an individual, I am primarily responsible for the health of American literature and culture. When I write, I am trying to make sense out of chaos. To think that a writer must think about his Negroness is to fall into a trap."

"I have something to say about the difference between American and European cities, but I forgot what it was. I have it written down at home somewhere."

"Everyone is free to write and say whatever he likes, without any restrictions. But every voluntary association is also free to expel members who use the name of the party to advocate anti-party views.…"

"If you read the old books of natural history, you will find they say that when the mongoose fights the snake and happens to get bitten, he runs off and eats some herb that cures him. That is not true.…"

"I do not defend Conchis’ decision at the execution, but I defend the reality of the dilemma. God and freedom are totally anti-pathetic concepts; and men believe in their imaginary gods most often beca…"