‘To be a writer means to discover a truth’: Milan Kundera – a life in quotes

Milan Kundera: A Glimpse into His Life Through Memorable Quotes

Milan Kundera, the renowned Czech author, has left an indelible mark on the literary world. Through his profound insights and thought-provoking statements, he has touched upon various facets of life, writing, and the human experience. Here are some of his most memorable quotes:

On Being a Writer:

• “When I was a little boy in short pants, I dreamed about a miraculous ointment that would make me invisible. Then I became an adult, began to write, and wanted to be successful. Now I’m successful and would like to have the ointment that would make me invisible.”
• “For a writer, the experience of living in a number of countries is an enormous boon. You can only understand the world if you see it from several sides.”
• “To be a writer does not mean to preach a truth, it means to discover a truth.”

On Novels:

• “The stupidity of people comes from having an answer to everything. The wisdom of the novel comes from having a question for everything.”
• “A novel does not assert anything; a novel searches and poses questions.”
• “There are four great novelists: Kafka, Broch, Musil, Gombrowicz. I call them the “pleiad” of central Europe’s great novelists.”

On Sex:

• “These days, when sexuality is no longer taboo, mere description, mere sexual confession, has become noticeably boring.”
• “It is the sex of the novels and not that of their authors that must interest us. All great novels, all true novels are bisexual.”

On Central Europe:

• “Central Europe is not a state: it is a culture or a fate.”
• “It’s not Russia but communism that deprives nations of their essence.”
• “I learned the value of humour during the time of Stalinist terror … A sense of humour was a trustworthy sign of recognition.”

For a deeper dive into Milan Kundera’s thoughts and perspectives, visit the original article on The Guardian.