“The task of a writer is not to solve the problem but to state the problem correctly.”

“You are right to demand that an author be conscious of what he is doing, but you are confusing two concepts: solving the problem and correctly formulating the problem. Only the latter is required of the artist.”

“In my opinion, it is not the writer’s job to solve such problems as the existence of God, pessimism, etc. The job of the artist is only to record who under which circumstances said or thought what about God or pessimism. The artist must not judge his characters or their words; he must only be an impartial witness… It is high time for writers— and especially for true artists— to admit that it is impossible to explain anything… if an artist whom the crowd trusts admits that he understands nothing of what he sees, this fact alone will make a great contribution to the realm of thought and will mark a great step forward.”

“There sprang up between them the light jesting conversation of people who are free and satisfied, to whom it does not matter where they go or what they talk about.”

“...a writer should not so much write as embroider on paper; the work should be painstaking, laborious.”

“Anyone who says the artist's field is all answers and no questions has never done any writing or had any dealings with imagery...You are confusing two concepts: answering the questions and formulating them correctly. Only the latter is required of an author.”

“Perhaps the feelings that we experience when we are in love represent a normal state. Being in love shows a person who he should be.”