42 Quotes by Daniel Kehlmann

Exactly as we might ask God, and do ask God, to change our fate. The difference is that in the story the writer actually replies and in the end even changes his mind.

When I write a book I’m always questioning the project as a whole. I always feel I might have to just throw it away and forget about it, and I’ve done that with novels I’ve started and worked on for a long time. It’s an option I need in order to write freely.

For a while I never show anybody what I’m writing, and during that time I need the feeling that publishing is only an option. I might publish this, I might not. I think if I had to publish it, I might panic.

Wir sind immer in Geschichten.

It’s also one of these strange points where metaphysics converges with economy. Because really what the experts are doing is creating value by banishing doubt. All great dead painters basically have this one person, this expert who has the metaphysical power to grant a seal of authenticity.

Also, whenever you have direct speech, and I don’t quite know why, but it always gets better in English. Dialogue, the flow of dialogue, English just has a better way with it.

When I look at life I try to be as agnostic and unmetaphysical as possible. So I have to admit that, most probably, we do not have a fate. But I think that’s something that draws us to novels – that the characters always have a fate. Even if it’s a terrible fate, at least they have one.

English is much drier. You can get away with a lot less. Pathos, lyricism, these are things you have to tone down if you want the English version of the book to work.

I wanted to write a book that would leave open many riddles and mysteries, even to me. Of course in some cases I do know the answers, but in many others I don’t know and don’t want to know.