Ahmad Zaki

“Each leaf on the maples and lindens was sharply outlined, as if chiselled from black stone. Taken as a whole, however, the great mass of trees seemed like a flat black pattern against the bright sky. The world’s beauty had surpassed itself. It was one of those moments when everyone stops to gaze in wonder—not only the idler with time on his hands but also the shift worker on his way home and the traveller half-dead on his feet. At times like this we cease to have distinct perceptions of light, space, silence, rustlings, warmth, sweet smells, the swaying of long grass or leaves—all the millions of ingredients that make up the world’s beauty. What we perceive then is true beauty, and it tells us only one thing: that life is a blessing.”
― Vasily Grossman, Stalingrad

“I had become a bit 'loud' lately, a sort of cocksureness which I loathed to see in others and yet was aware of in myself. I suppose if a young man feels he is loved by a rich and beautiful woman, it isn't unnatural for him to be a bit arrogant, but my arrogance was not natural. I sincerely believed if I manifested humility and a loving gratitude to Edna, I would not be loved in return. It is all right for people to pretend that love breeds love, but it is not. The seed of love is indifference.”
― Waguih Ghali

“واعلم يا فتى أن أول الحب سكن.. ولا يكون السكن إلا بعد اضطراب وصخب.. وذاك أن روح العاشق لا تزال تمور وتضطرب بين شوق وحاجة، حتى يتصل بمن سلب لبّه وملك أمره.. فإذا اتصلا سكن ما في أنفسهما.. وهدأ ما بين جنبيهما..

ثم تكون المودة.. وهي النهر الهادئ.. وتكون حين لا يرجو العاشق إشباع شهوة أو تحقيق غريزة بقدر ما يرجو إسعاد معشوقه والسعادة به.. وهي – أي المودة - ضوء تلمحه في عينيهما.. وجرس تسمعه في صوتيهما.. وشبه تراه في ملامحهما حتى يخيل لك أنهما واحد..

ثم يطوى الليل والنهار.. فترق العظام من بعد صلابة.. وتذبل الأجساد من بعد قوة.. فتكون الرحمة.. وهي عطف على ضعف.. ولا يغرنك قول بعضهم أنها خاصة بالرجل تجاه امرأته.. فإن من عمّر في الحب، عرف أن الرجل إلى رحمة المرأة أحوج.. وإلى عطفها أفقر وأطلب..

من رسائل المعلم فرحان إلى الفتى ذي الرأسين..”
― ديك الجن

“I would nevertheless believe that if the world had been just, we would have loved and lived normally, you and I.

'Edna,' I went on, 'when you used to leave, I used to be left with a colossal amount of knowledge and awareness of the world which I didn't know what to do with. As long as you were with me, it had, however vaguely, something to do with my love for you. My knowledge made me a little worthy of you.”
― Waguih Ghali, Beer in the Snooker Club