Orhan Pamuk
Orhan Pamuk
Ferit Orhan Pamukis a Turkish novelist, screenwriter, academic and recipient of the 2006 Nobel Prize in Literature. One of Turkey's most prominent novelists, his work has sold over thirteen million books in sixty-three languages, making him the country's best-selling writer...
ProfessionNovelist
Date of Birth7 June 1952
CityIstanbul, Turkey
beautiful heart giving
If we give what we treasure most to a Being we love with all our hearts, if we can do that without expecting anything in return, then the world becomes a beautiful place.
islands intellectual culture
I identify with my culture, but I am happy to be living on a tolerant, intellectual island where I can deal with Dostoyevsky and Sartre, both great influences for me.
falling-in-love heart men
It may not happen in the first instant, but within ten minutes of meeting a man, a woman has a clear idea of who he is, or at least who he might be for her, and her heart of hearts has already told her whether or not she's going to fall in love with him.
compassion gaps surrender
The gap between compassion and surrender is love’s darkest, deepest region.
say-anything able censorship
Censorship should never be allowed. One should be able to say anything. But I refuse to let politics be foisted on me.
religious war army
The bloody years of war and all the atrocities in European history have taught the Europeans that secular politics free of religious hatred is mainly a question of peace. This concept is not anchored in the same way in the consciousness of Turks, which has to do with the fact that the secular was forced upon us by the army.
philosophical emotional essence
True literature is more than just a story someone has told. It must provide the reader with the essence of the world on a moral, philosophical and emotional level.
mistake book sorrow
Books, which we mistake for consolation, only add depth to our sorrow.
lying people losing
People only tell lies when there is something they are terribly frightened of losing.
stars heart reflection
...every person has a star, every star has a friend, and for every person carrying a star there is someone else who reflects it, and everyone carries this reflection like a secret confidante in the heart.
school istanbul people
The first thing I learned at school was that some people are idiots; the second thing I learned was that some are even worse.
realizing dread filled
Suddenly Ka realized he was in love with İpek. And realizing that this love would determine the rest of his life, he was filled with dread.
knowing arms world
Happiness is holding someone in your arms and knowing you hold the whole world.
thinking islam firsts
I think it's horrible that we Turks are always seen under the aspect of Islam first. I am constantly asked about religion, and almost always with a negative undercurrent that makes me furious.