I believe absolutely in love being the central motive force of the universe.

It is the sincerest thing I have written, caught by the drama of a soul struggling in the contrary toils of love and religion - death brought them into harmony.

Life is the most versatile thing under the sun; and in the pursuit of life and character the author who works in a groove works in blinkers.

For the last half of my life I have had the doubtful benefit of a brother whose literary reputation is much greater than my own.

Writing a book is not a small undertaking, but God placed it on my heart to trust Him with such a project.

Those who are rooted in the depths that are eternal and unchangeable and who rely on unshakeable principles, face change full of courage, courage based on faith.

There's stuff going on in the world right now, which you can't imagine why is this happening; it's crazy. I don't know what the answer is, but if you didn't have faith in the universe that somehow something great would arrive at the end, then we'd all give up, and that would be a waste of everyone's time.

Although the Nasser revolution of 1952 was secular, the culture remained deeply religious - but it was a faith of moderation and tolerance. Women made up nearly half my class at university, and my senior academic adviser there was a woman. In Alexandria, my friends were Christians and Muslims.