Pramoedya Ananta Toer Quotes

In my books I might hold the mirror to my own face. If others would like to borrow the mirror, they're welcome. The books aren't there to accuse others - merely to raise issues and keep the debates alive.

I used to feel that if I say something's wrong, I have to say how it could be made right. But what I learned from Kurt Vonnegut was that I could write stories that say I may not have a solution, but this is wrong - that's good enough.

Think before you act and act on what you believe.

The final purpose of art is to intensify, even, if necessary, to exacerbate, the moral consciousness of people.

One of my weaknesses is that I actually have a conscience.

A writer without a sense of justice or injustice would be better off editing the yearbook for a school for exceptional children.

Forgive many things in others; nothing in yourself.

I can't judge the way other people behave. I can only look at myself.

I can't judge any of you. I have no malice against you and no ribbons for you. But I think that it is high time that you all start looking at yourselves, and judging the lie that you live in.

I believe that my art gets across the point that I'm in this morality theater trying to help the underdog, and I'm speaking socially here, showing concern and making psychological and philosophical statements for the underdog.

I'm a deeply broken person, and broken institutions fascinate me.

Your conscience is the measure of the honesty of your selfishness. Listen to it carefully.

Conscience is the mirror of our souls, which represents the errors of our lives in their full shape.

I think judgment is from within. It's not a God judging. Someone who is nasty - they're the one who has to sleep at night.

Every human being has a work to carry on within, duties to perform abroad, influence to exert, which are peculiarly his, and which no conscience but his own can teach.

I'd ask myself, 'What do I think is really unjust?' That should be a starting point for how you engage with the world.

If a dog will not come to you after having looked you in the face, you should go home and examine your conscience.

I feel like I've always approached criticism with a degree of morality, right? Like, not as a moralizer, but just as somebody who wants to make sure that the culture we're getting is at least morally aware of how it's functioning.

I think it's important to hold a mirror up to society and yourself.

I don't think people who are bad people think they're bad people.

I always thought I was a good person, a decent person. I never harassed anyone or touched anyone. And you say to yourself, 'Oh, that's good enough,' but yes, I had certain jokes that I always assumed the audience would understand. This is Persona.

If you're an adult who takes 'Made in Chelsea' seriously, I suggest you take a look at yourself.

Everyone has to be their own critic.

Good acting should teach people to understand rather than judge.

At some point you have to take responsibility for who you are and where you are and being able to listen to other points of view, whichever side of the tracks you're on.