Salman Rushdie Quotes

I always say I have a Danish passport, but I am a New Yorker at heart.

It's a complicated issue, but I define myself as an American, primarily.

I like to think of myself as a New Yorker, which is pathetic.

So, you know, I always say that I'm a Mexican, but if I had to be a citizen of anywhere else, I'd be a citizen of Manhattan. I feel very much a New Yorker.

I love L.A. and feel attached to this city, but I don't identify myself as being a part of it.

I am more of a New Yorker than ever and just actually, sometimes I fantasize about living somewhere else, where it's maybe not quite so crowded or stressful, blah, blah, blah and after September 11th, I guess I could just not imagine living anywhere else.

We [native-born] could not choose, but they [immigrants] could and did choose to be Americans.

You don't have to be born in New York City to be a New Yorker. You have to live here for six months. And if at the end of the six months you walk faster, you talk faster, you think faster, you're a New Yorker.

It was very hard for me, for most of my life, to feel American, or call myself American, and that is a very complicated topic that would require a very long conversation.

I don't feel like a Londoner.

I've always just considered myself a New Yorker, you know.

Who does get to claim Americanness? You know, my brother was born in this country. And is he seen as American? So, I mean, it brings up a lot of interesting questions.

It's possible that Israel will be my second home, but it won't be my only home.

I'm fully English, but Portugal is my home.

I did have a chance to box for Pakistan, but I've lived here all my life, gone to school; all my coaches and everyone's here, and I feel English.

I'm American by birth, but I consider myself Canadian.

Sting and I need to think what our relationship is to England in the long term.

I'm not leaving New York. And neither is anyone else. We're here. We are quintessential Americans - we're not only American, but New York-American.

I've never felt more American than I did when I moved to England. It becomes a real kind of part of your identity: "Oh, Ben. He's the American guy." I think when you say you're from New York you get a different reception then if you just say, "I'm American." So I'd always kind of make sure I was a New Yorker first.

I do feel very American. I think it's something I'm proud of and proud to be by chance born here. Honestly, that's something I think about.

Being Nigerian is a strong part of my identity. Being American is a strong part of my identity. And there are important parts of who I am that really have nothing to do with my national connection.

If we work on it, we can absolutely refuse any notion that suggests that after generations of contributing to this country, being a part of the bones and the marrow, that I'm supposed to be uncomfortable here.

I have lived my whole life in Delhi. I used to live in Rohini and then I moved to Munirka. I have seen north and south Delhi very closely. That's why my songs and raps have a Dilli waali feel to it. Delhi made me who I am today and I am proud of it.

I say every year that England is my home now.

I could have had Spanish nationality, and I didn't take it.