Salman Rushdie

Notable Quotes



A purpose of our lives is to broaden what we can understand and say and therefore be.

From Salman Rushdie

The First Amendment defends all forms of speech including hate speech, which is why groups like Ku Klux Klan are allowed to utter their poisonous remarks.

From Salman Rushdie

But there's one thing we must all be clear about: terrorism is not the pursuit of legitimate goals by some sort of illegitimate means. Whatever the murderers may be trying to achieve, creating a better world certainly isn't one of their goals. Instead they are out to murder innocent people.

From Salman Rushdie

A poet's work is to name the unnameable, to point at frauds, to take sides, start arguments, shape the world, and stop it going to sleep.

From Salman Rushdie

What is freedom of expression? Without the freedom to offend, it ceases to exist.

From Salman Rushdie

Writers have been in terrible situations and have yet managed to produce extraordinary work.

From Salman Rushdie

Original thought, original artistic expression is by its very nature questioning, irreverent, iconoclastic.

From Salman Rushdie

American literature has always been immigrant.

From Salman Rushdie

If you're offended, it's your problem.

From Salman Rushdie

I grew up reading 'The Jungle Books' and loving them.

From Salman Rushdie

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