Nizar Qabbani

Nizar Qabbani (1923-1998), full name Nizar Tawfiq Qabbani, was a Syrian/Lebanese writer, publisher, and diplomat. He is known for his many poetry collections and an autobiography.

Wisdom & Quotes

• What we feel is beyond words. We should be ashamed of our poems.
• Our enemies did not cross our borders

They crept through our weaknesses like ants.

• We need an angry generation,

A generation to plow the horizons.
- What Value Has the People Whose Tongue is Tied?

• It's painful to listen to the news in the morning.

It's painful to listen to the barking of dogs.

• Our shouting is louder than our actions

Our swords are taller than us
That is our tragedy.

• We praise like frogs,

Swear like frogs,
Turn midgets into heroes,
and heroes into scum:
We never stop and think.

• The word is a bouncing ball

The ruler throws from his balcony.
................
The word has been a shot of morphine.
Rulers calm their people with speeches.

V S Naipaul