“To THOSE who want to lift this nation from the dungheap of history, the past does not matter — only the present,… — F. Sionil José Filipino-authors Copy Share Image
I wish I could be honest and true, but truth as I see it is not something abstract, a pious generality---It is… — F. Sionil José Abstract Copy Share Image
Professional societies are sooner or later fractured by the ego of their leaders. Everyone wants to be president, chairman, CEO; no one… — F. Sionil Jose Ceo Copy Share Image
“...the mind can also be kind and does blot out those episodes of our existence that we can't erase in our consciousness.” — F. Sionil José Con Copy Share Image
Art, whatever form it takes, requires hard work, craftsmanship and creativity. As a writer, I know my grammar, cadence, the music of… — F. Sionil Jose Art Copy Share Image
Some lucky people can be funny without half trying because they actually look funny, because acting funny is in their bones -… — F. Sionil Jose Acting Copy Share Image
Colonialism subdues in many dulcet guises. It conquered under the pretext of spreading Christianity, civilization, law and order, to make the world… — F. Sionil Jose Christianity Copy Share Image
The Japanese bureaucracy is unique. It is also very powerful, although it is now the object of so much criticism. Many of… — F. Sionil José Bureaucracy Copy Share Image
“But you must be sure of what you want the land for. And as for your tenants, if they don't own the… — F. Sionil José Land Copy Share Image
I can't understand Urdu, Bahasa or Russian, but when the Pakistani Faiz, the Indonesian Rendra and the Russian Rosdentvensky declaim, I can… — F. Sionil Jose Audience Copy Share Image
“I believe in life, that it is sweet and that, for all its occasional bitterness, we-man, that is-are headed toward something better… — F. Sionil José Bitterness Copy Share Image
“Don Jacinto did not reply; perhaps he understood that there was no measure for love of country except in sacrifice, and why… — F. Sionil José Love Copy Share Image
Life is always sad. That's what makes suicide so tempting because life is all that we really have and haven't. Death makes… — F. Sionil José Death Copy Share Image
At 86, I can easily look back to the last eight decades. Though memory often fails me now, so many images of… — F. Sionil Jose Abide Copy Share Image
“I was shocked at the revelation of her vaulting ambition, her greed. I should have loathed her or, knowing what kind of… — F. Sionil José Greed Copy Share Image
“A Man's suicide is the ultimate violence he can fling against the granite circumstance he could not vanquish. Its a lonely and… — F. Sionil José Death Copy Share Image
“All I can look after is my own farm, serve those who seek when they are sick. I have children to look… — F. Sionil José Children Copy Share Image
Tourists as well as natives want to see cultural achievements - whether it's the Banaue Terraces, the old churches or museums. — F. Sionil Jose Achievements Copy Share Image
It was in the sugar hacienda in Negros, Panay and in Central Luzon where I saw the injustices heaped upon the sugar… — F. Sionil Jose Central Copy Share Image
I can imagine the writers of China, England and France, crippled and unsure of themselves when they feel that the ghosts of… — F. Sionil Jose China Copy Share Image
As artists, we must not go down to the level of the masa; we should bring them up, intellectualize our languages, create… — F. Sionil Jose Art Copy Share Image
“Was he the epitome of virtue because he was poor? How had it been in the village? There was foul gossip and… — F. Sionil José Thinking About Others Copy Share Image
The literary depiction of life and its moral dilemmas compel us to use our conscience, to make those infallible distinctions between right… — F. Sionil Jose Between Copy Share Image
Poetry, fiction as novels or short stories - these are autonomous as created by their authors. They should stand on their own,… — F. Sionil Jose Authors Copy Share Image
“I think that I was born on a day God was fast asleep. And whatever happened after my birth was nothing but… — F. Sionil José Ignorance Copy Share Image
You will find that our enemies are our own kin. It is they who betray us. So learn this most important lesson-in… — F. Sionil José Betray Copy Share Image
This is the harsh truth about us: not only do Filipinos ignore books, literature - we do not understand how important the… — F. Sionil Jose About Copy Share Image
All through history, a nation or a civilization's enduring glory is articulated by its mega constructions - the pyramids, the lofty cathedrals… — F. Sionil Jose Cathedrals Copy Share Image
I have always admired teachers because teaching, like the priesthood, medicine and writing, is a vocation. You don't become a teacher because… — F. Sionil Jose Admired Copy Share Image
Language as a communication tool is the primary element from which literature is created. Even in pre-literate societies, it exists as songs,… — F. Sionil Jose Books Copy Share Image
Cultural values are, in themselves, neutral as well as universal, and so much depends on how individuals or ethnic groups use them.… — F. Sionil Jose Climate Copy Share Image
All dictators, the rich and famous, to the lowest security guard who holds a gun, easily forget that power is transitory. — F. Sionil Jose Cybersecurity Copy Share Image
In the visual arts, particularly painting, I distrust all those abstractions, those artificial constructions. I have a very simple way of judging… — F. Sionil Jose Abstraction Copy Share Image
For decades, as literary editor, I have followed the growth of our creative writing in English. In my Solidaridad Bookshop, half of… — F. Sionil Jose Books Copy Share Image
Self-respect, the value of 'face,' is universal but is most pronounced in China, then in Japan where the Confucian ethic is most… — F. Sionil Jose China Copy Share Image
“While violence is necessary, it is not the only instrument for change. There are others just as good. But you must accept… — F. Sionil José Accept Copy Share Image
“But it really all boils down to this - we don't know them, for all our sincerity, our good intentions. We don't… — F. Sionil José Good intentions Copy Share Image
“It is easy to forgive a person his faults when he is dead because in death, he atones for his sins somewhat… — F. Sionil José Death Copy Share Image
November is auspicious in so many parts of the country: the rice harvest is already in, the weather starts to cool, and… — F. Sionil José Christmas Copy Share Image
No man stops caring as long as he breathes. As long as he has a mind and memory, he will care. This… — F. Sionil José Animal Copy Share Image
