Human beings, you see, do absolutely two primary things. We see like and unlike. Like becomes, in literature, simile and metaphor. Unlike becomes uniqueness and difference, from which I believe, the novel is born. Salman Rushdie absolutelybearbeing share on social
I think that England made a very big, historical mistake to allow itself to become the kind of terrorist capital of the world. Salman Rushdie bigcapitalengland Change image and share on social
I am certainly not a good Muslim. But I am able now to say that I am Muslim; in fact it is a source of happiness to say that I am now inside, and a part of the community whose values have always been closest to my heart. Salman Rushdie closecommunityfact share on social
One of the things I do take some pride in is that if you had never read an article about my life, if you knew nothing about me, except that my books were being set in front of you to read, and if you were to read those books in sequence, I don't think you would say to yourself, 'Oh my God, something terrible happened to this writer in 1989.' Salman Rushdie articlebookfront share on social
If the culture shifts, if people think differently about women, the art will shift, too. You can't ask art to make social change. It's not what it's for. Salman Rushdie artchangeculture Change image and share on social
When 'Midnight's Children' came out, people in the West tended to respond to the fantasy elements in the novel, to praise it in those terms. In India, people read it like a history book. Salman Rushdie bookchildelement Change image and share on social
'The Satanic Verses' was denied the ordinary life of a novel. It became something smaller and uglier: an insult. Salman Rushdie denyinsultlife Change image and share on social
I think that a lot of us, whether we are religious or not - there are no words to express some things except religious words. For instance, 'soul.' Salman Rushdie expressinstancelot Change image and share on social
Writers shouldn't have lives that are interesting. It gets in the way of your work. Salman Rushdie interestlivework Change image and share on social
The West should be tougher on Pakistan. It is trying to play both ends against the middle - to look like the friend of the revolutionaries on the one hand and a friend of the West in the fight against terrorism. It can't be both things. Salman Rushdie endfightfriend share on social