I don't know much about politics, and I don't want to know. That's why I rarely involve myself in politics.

I write to understand as much as to be understood.

I never felt any attraction towards violence. I never tried to express myself through violence. Violence is a language.

That is my major preoccupation, memory, the kingdom of memory. I want to protect and enrich that kingdom, glorify that kingdom and serve it.

Sometimes I am asked if I know 'the response to Auschwitz; I answer that not only do I not know it, but that I don't even know if a tragedy of this magnitude has a response.

I wanted to write a commentary on the Bible, to write about the Talmud, about celebration, about the great eternal subjects: love and happiness.