“It's hard for me to speak, whether in English or Afrikaans. The reason I write is because I cannot speak. I feel blunt.”

“I'm a poet. I distrust anything that starts with a capital letter and ends with a full stop because people don't think in full, clear sentences.”

“This made no sense to me, probably because I speak English and have never had a head injury.”

“I’m bilingual, speaking English and body language. I prefer the latter, because I can speak it silently and without listening and while my back is turned.”

“First they came for the communists and I did not speak out - because I was not a communist.Then they came for the Jews and I did not speak out - because I was not a Jew.Then they came for the trade unionists and I did not speak out - because I was not a trade unionist.Next they came for the Catholics and I did not speak out - because I was not a Catholic.Then they came for me. And there was no one left to speak out for me.”

“I write for the same reason I read: because it's all there is for me.”

“God. Twice I speak it. I say His name in a futile attempt to understand. "But it's not your job to understand." That's me who answers. God never says anything. You think you're the only one he never answers? "Your job is to..." And I stop listening to me, because to put it bluntly, I tire me.”