25 Quotes by Edmond Jabès

I believe in the writer’s mission. He receives it from the word, which carries its suffering and its hope within it. He questions the words, which question him. He accompanies the words, which accompany him. The initiative is shared, as if spontaneous.

By the light of our insistent truths we wander into death.

As long as we are not chased from our words we have nothing to fear. As long as our utterances keep their sound we have a voice. As long as our words keep their sense we have a soul.

The hand opens to the word, opens to distance.

What is not grasped has all the chances to become real.

In the morning, you tear up the pages of your fever, but every word naturally leads you back to its color, its night.

We do not truly speak except at a distance. There is no word not severed.