Carlos Fuentes Quotes

There is no creation without tradition; the ‘new’ is an inflection on a preceding form; novelty is always a variation on the past.

My system for staying young is to work a lot, to always have a project on the go.

Cuba needs a dose of perestroika.

Art gives life to what history killed. Art gives voice to what history denied, silenced, or persecuted. Art brings truth to the lies of history.

Death is the great Maecenas, Death is the great angel of writing. You must write because you are not going to live any more.

I have never considered myself a writer in exile because I grew up outside of my own country, because my father was a diplomat. Therefore, I grew up in Brazil, Chile, Argentina, the United States, I studied in Switzerland – so I’ve always had perspective on my country – I am thankful for that.

The United States condoned dictatorships in Latin America for much of the 20th century.

I started my own magazine with drawings, commentary, news, film reviews and drawings.

I had the good fortune of having a happy, closely knit family.

Robinson Crusoe, the first capitalist hero, is a self-made man who accepts objective reality and then fashions it to his needs through the work ethic, common sense, resilience, technology, and, if need be, racism and imperialism.

The language of Mexicans springs from abysmal extremes of power and impotence, domination and resentment.

I discovered very quickly that criticism is a form of optimism, and that when you are silent about the shortcomings of your society, you’re very pessimistic about that society. And it’s only when you speak truthfully about it that you show your faith in that society.