Italo Calvino

Without translation, I would be limited to the borders of my own country. The translator is my most important ally. He introduces me to the world.

I write by hand, making many, many corrections. I would say I cross out more than I write. I have to hunt for words when I speak, and I have the same difficulty when writing.

A human being becomes human not through the casual convergence of certain biological conditions, but through an act of will and love on the part of other people.

I regret things all the time. I've never regretted not saying something. I've only regretted saying something.

I don't like to get in front of people.

Another thing that freaks me out is time. Time is like a book. You have a beginning, a middle and an end. It's just a cycle.