When I was 21, I wanted to write like Kafka. But, unfortunately for me, I wrote like a script editor for 'The Simpsons' who'd briefly joined a religious cult and then discovered Foucault. Such is life. Zadie Smith brieflycultdiscover share on social
People with children will know this: when the childcare is over, it's over on the dot. You immediately have to go into child mode; there's no down time. Zadie Smith childchildcaredot Change image and share on social
The utterly fallacious idea at the heart of the pro-war argument is that it is the duty of the anti-war argument to provide an alternative to war. The onus is on them to explain just cause. Zadie Smith alternativeantiargument Change image and share on social
I like books that don't give you an easy ride. I like the feeling of discomfort. The sense of being implicated. Zadie Smith bookdiscomforteasy Change image and share on social
Cambridge was a joy. Tediously. People reading books in a posh place. It was my fantasy. I loved it. I miss it still. Zadie Smith bookcambridgefantasy Change image and share on social
I just realized quite early on that I'm not going to be the type who can write a novel every two years. I think you need to feel an urgency about the act. Otherwise, when you read it, you feel no urgency, either. So I don't write unless I really feel I need to, and that's a luxury. Zadie Smith actearlyfeel share on social
Desperation, weakness, vulnerability - these things will always be exploited. You need to protect the weak, ring-fence them, with something far stronger than empathy. Zadie Smith desperationempathyexploit Change image and share on social
I'm never interested in writing a kind of neutral, universal novel that could be set anywhere. To me, the novel is a local thing. Zadie Smith interestkindlocal Change image and share on social
I don't keep any copies of my books in the house - they go to my mum's flat. I don't like them around. Zadie Smith bookcopyflat Change image and share on social
You can't state difference and also state equality. We have to state sameness to understand equality. Zadie Smith differenceequalitysameness Change image and share on social