"rare privilege of entering a national psychology, in a way that thousands of journalistic articles or television documentaries could not achieve."

“According to Islamic principles, when a man is accused of heresy, he is given the choice between repentance and punishment.”

“Voices were blended and intermingled in a tumultuous swirl around which eddied laughter, shouts, the squeaking of doors and windows, piano and accordion music, rollicking handclaps, a policeman's bark, braying, grunts, coughs of hashish addicts and screams of drunkards, anonymous calls for help, raps of a stick, and singing by individuals and groups.”

“Naguib Mahfouz on aucpress.com”

“It was amazing that in this country where people allowed emotion to guide their politics they approached love with the precision of accountants.”

“God did not intend religion to be an exercise club.”

“You can tell whether a man is clever by his answers. You can tell whether a man is wise by his questions.”