Cees Nooteboom

The world is a never-ending cross-reference.

My tears are only triggered by kitsch.

That is the difference between gods and men. Gods can change themselves; humans can only be changed.

Besides, I simply had to get back to my books right away, because the company of most people, once the predictable events have taken their course, does not inspire conversation on my part.

Every period in history has its own punishments, and ours has a multitude.

It is a peculiarity of time that in retrospect it appears so compact, an indivisible solid object, a dish with only one smell and one flavor. (Page 4)

Memory is like a dog that lies down where it pleases. (Page 1)