Naguib Mahfouz

The Harafish is a reflection of the eternal struggle between good and evil.

There's a lot of intelligence in his eyes. His heart is as spotless as yours. You'll find he'll turn out, with God's will, a truly good man."

She ran up the rest of the way up and stopped in front of him out of breath[...] 'It's you!' she said, breathless and happy, seizing his arm"

"He walked on until he reached the Zahra offices in Maarif Square, an enormous building, where his first thought was that it would be very difficult to break into

In the Harafish, dreams are carried on the shoulders of ordinary people.

You always act impulsively, Said, without thinking, but you mustn't rush this time; you must wait until you've arranged things, then swoop like an eagle.

He and Raifa each lived in hell, in a world of tedium.

The silence of the graves is more intense, but you can't switch on the light...Your eyes will get used to the dark.

With this revolver I can awake those who are asleep. They're the root of the trouble. They're the ones who've made creatures like Nabawiyya, Ilish, and Rauf Ilwan possible.

Listen, Said. Things are no longer what they used to be. In the past, you were both a thief and my friend, for reasons you well know. Now the situation has changed. If you go back to a burglary you'll be a thief and nothing else."

She was thoroughly amazed that this sin made him more amiable.”

[....] was struck by the idea of a woman's weakness is her emotions, and that her relationships with men should be rational and calculated. Life is precious, with vast possibilities, limitless horizons. Love is nothing more than a blind beggar, creeping around the alleyways.