Henning Mankell Quotes

A collection of quotes by Henning Mankell.

Henning Mankell (1948-2015) was a renowned Swedish author, best known for his crime novels featuring detective Kurt Wallander. Born in Stockholm, Mankell had a diverse career as a playwright, director, and novelist. His gritty and socially conscious crime fiction earned him worldwide recognition and made him one of the most successful Scandinavian authors. Mankell's works often highlighted social issues and explored the complexities of human nature. He is revered for his ability to capture the distinctive essence of Swedish society while crafting captivating and suspenseful narratives. Mankell's literary contributions continue to inspire and engage readers globally.

Normally street children are shown in terms of the tragedy o

Normally street children are shown in terms of the tragedy of their lives - which is true - but there's also another dimension: their wisdom, dignity and enormous capacity for survival.

Henning Mankell

I live with one foot in the sand and one in the snow. There'

I live with one foot in the sand and one in the snow. There's European egocentricity, and the African opposite. I normally say that my African experience has made me a better European.

Henning Mankell

Among all the nonsense, mistakes, and bad ideas we come up w

Among all the nonsense, mistakes, and bad ideas we come up with, maybe some truth will sneak in.

Henning Mankell

Many people make the mistake of confusing information with k

Many people make the mistake of confusing information with knowledge. They are not the same thing. Knowledge involves the interpretation of information. Knowledge involves listening.

Henning Mankell

I am fascinated by all the new technology that creates place

I am fascinated by all the new technology that creates places for us to meet in what is called cyberspace. I understand what it must have meant for the rebellions in the 19th century, especially in 1830 and 1848, when the mass circulated newspaper became so important for the spreading of information.

Henning Mankell

I still have a photo on my wall of the greatest idol I will

I still have a photo on my wall of the greatest idol I will ever have in my life, and it's myself at eight. Because that's when the forces of imagination have the same value as the real world, when they're an instrument of survival: when my mother disappeared, and I imagined a mother. That was me at my best.

Henning Mankell

I am not afraid of dying. I have lived longer than most peop

I am not afraid of dying. I have lived longer than most people in the world. What scares me is to have a body that works but a brain that is waving goodbye. If that happens, I hope I die quickly.

Henning Mankell

Sweden is still a very peaceful country to live in. I think

Sweden is still a very peaceful country to live in. I think that people in Britain have created this mythology about Sweden, that it's a perfect democratic society full of erotically charged girls.

Henning Mankell

What differentiates us from animals is the fact that we can

What differentiates us from animals is the fact that we can listen to other people's dreams, fears, joys, sorrows, desires and defeats - and they in turn can listen to ours.

Henning Mankell

I work in an old tradition that goes back to the ancient Gre

I work in an old tradition that goes back to the ancient Greeks. You hold a mirror to crime to see what's happening in society. I could never write a crime story just for the sake of it, because I always want to talk about certain things in society.

Henning Mankell

The wonderful Mozambican people have endured tremendous mise

The wonderful Mozambican people have endured tremendous misery without losing their dignity and their positive outlook on life. Moreover, they have not lost their will to progress and develop. Mozambique is a country where the people never surrendered.

Henning Mankell

Many people say I smile more in Africa than in Sweden.

Many people say I smile more in Africa than in Sweden.

Henning Mankell