Mario Vargas Llosa, born on March 28, 1936, is a renowned Peruvian writer, novelist, and essayist. He is considered one of the most important Latin American authors of the 20th century and has received numerous awards, including the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2010. Vargas Llosa’s works often explore political and social issues, and his writing is known for its intellectual depth and lyrical prose.
Throughout his illustrious career, Mario Vargas Llosa has shared his wisdom and insight through his words. From his novels to his essays, his quotes have inspired and provoked thought in readers around the world. In this article, we have compiled a collection of some of his most memorable quotes that showcase his brilliance and literary genius.
Whether you are a fan of Mario Vargas Llosa’s works or simply seeking inspiration, these quotes are sure to captivate your mind and touch your soul.
Read These Mario Vargas Llosa Quotes
“What we have to do, what at any rate it is our duty to do, is to revive the old art of Lying.”
“A society that loses its youth, loses its future.”
“Writing is a struggle against silence.”
“Culture, which makes talent shine, is not completely ours either, nor can we place it solely at our disposal.”
“The only thing that the world will not have enough of is exaggeration.”
“Freedom of expression is the foundation of all other freedoms.”
“A writer’s duty is to reveal the world as it is, without embellishment, without fear.”
“A good writer is basically a story teller, not a scholar or a redeemer of mankind.”
“Literature is the expression of a feeling of deprivation, a recourse against a sense of something missing. But the contrary is also true: language is what makes us human. It is a recourse against the meaningless noise and silence of nature and history.”
“A novel is not an allegory. It is the sensual experience of another world. If you don’t enter that world, hold your breath with the characters and become involved in their destiny, you won’t be able to empathize, and empathy is at the heart of the novel. This is how you read a novel: you inhale the experience. So start breathing.”
“The writer’s job is to write with rigor, with commitment, to defend what they believe with all the talent they have. I think that’s part of the moral obligation of a writer, which cannot be only purely artistic. I think a writer has some kind of responsibility at least to participate in the civic debate.”
“In novels, things must happen in a plausible way; in reality, they don’t even have to be plausible.”
“In literature, as in love, we are astonished at what is chosen by others.”
“A revolution is not a bed of roses. A revolution is a struggle between the future and the past.”
“Writers are the exorcists of their own demons.”
“A good writer is somebody who is able to imagine reality.”
“Culture is the widening of the mind and of the spirit.”
“Literature is the best way to overcome death. My father, who was a writer, taught me that.”
“Fiction is not a dream. Nor is it guesswork. It is imagining based on facts, and the facts must be accurate, or the work of imagining will not stand up.”
“Each generation has to discover its mission, fulfill it or betray it, in relative opacity.”
These quotes are just a glimpse of the wisdom and brilliance that Mario Vargas Llosa has shared with the world through his works. His words continue to inspire and challenge readers, leaving a lasting impact on the literary landscape. Whether you are a fan of his novels or in search of thought-provoking ideas, Mario Vargas Llosa’s quotes are worth exploring and reflecting upon.
