The Knife and the Pen
The pen is the weapon of truth. They may threaten me with a knife, but they cannot silence my pen.
Salman Rushdie
British-American writer, Booker Prize laureate, author of 'Midnight's Children' and 'Magical Realism'.
All moments: Salman Rushdie
- Hope as Action — Salman Rushdie
Hope is not passive waiting. Hope is active resistance against despair.
- Hybrid Identity — Salman Rushdie
I am a hybrid person in a hybrid world. This is my wealth and my sorrow.
- Writer as Bridge Between Worlds — Salman Rushdie
A writer lives at the border of cultures. This gives him special responsibility and special power.
- Stories as Immortality — Salman Rushdie
Stories are our path to immortality. Through them, we live longer than nature allows.
- Life After Stigma — Salman Rushdie
I survived not because I was stronger, but because I chose to live. Every new day is an escape.
- Imagination as Freedom — Salman Rushdie
Imagination is our ultimate freedom. When the state tries to suppress imagination, it fears the truth.
Related moments
- Birth of a Legend — Paul McCartney
The Beatles were about growth. We changed every single day.
- Documenting History — Questlove
As a documentarian, I feel a responsibility to preserve the history of Black music and culture
- The Art of Service — John Legend
As an artist, I see my role as serving humanity and raising my voice for justice
- Alien Artist — David Bowie
I never tried to fit in. I prefer to be myself, even if it's alien.
- Compromise and Conscience — Bob Dylan
I'll never sell my soul for money or fame. It's my only true asset.
- Humble Beginnings — Paul McCartney
Nobody believed in us at first. We just believed in ourselves and the music.