I've been fascinated by Machiavelli since I was very young. I've always felt that he had a bad rap from history, and that he was actually a person quite unlike what we now think of as Machiavellian. He was a republican. He disliked totalitarian government. Salman Rushdie baddislikefascinate share on social
When I'm writing a book, sentence by sentence, I'm not thinking theoretically. I'm just trying to work out the story from inside the characters I've got. Salman Rushdie bookcharacterhave Change image and share on social
British society has never been cleansed of the filth of imperialism. Salman Rushdie britishcleansefilth Change image and share on social
Rock and roll music - the music of freedom frightens people and unleashes all manner of conservative defense mechanisms. Salman Rushdie conservativedefensefreedom 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
I never thought of myself as a writer about religion until a religion came after me. Salman Rushdie religionthinkwriter Change image and share on social
You want all your books to stick around after you've gone. Salman Rushdie bookhavestick Change image and share on social
I have always thought, the secret purpose of the book tour is to make the writer hate the book he's written. And, as a result, drive him to write another book. Salman Rushdie bookdrivehate Change image and share on social
I only met Margaret Thatcher twice. The thing that I thought about meeting her was how extraordinarily intelligent she was. You really had to be on your game; otherwise, she'd make mincemeat of you. Salman Rushdie extraordinarilygameintelligent Change image and share on social
What I worry about and don't like is the way in which the ideology of multiculturalism has declined into cultural relativism. I think that's very dangerous. When the Archbishop of Canterbury, for God's sake, says that you can't have one law for everybody... that's stupid. Salman Rushdie archbishopcanterburycultural share on social
