Henning Mankell Quotes

Powerful Henning Mankell for Daily Growth

About Henning Mankell

Henning Mankell, born on March 3, 1948, in Stockholm, Sweden, was a renowned Swedish writer, primarily known for his Inspector Wallander series. His works are characterized by their exploration of social issues, moral dilemmas, and existential questions, often set against the backdrop of Africa where Mankell spent significant periods of time. Mankell's early life was marked by a love for literature. He began writing at an early age and published his first novel, The Stone Cross (1971), while still in college. However, it was the creation of Kurt Wallander, a troubled detective battling depression and grappling with moral ambiguities, that brought Mankell international acclaim. The first Wallander book, Facet of Death (1995), was a significant departure from conventional crime fiction, delving deep into the personal lives of characters. Mankell's relationship with Africa began in 1984 when he moved to Kapiti Plain in South Africa to work on a film. This experience led him to establish a theatre group in Port Elizabeth and later founded a literary festival there. He spent much of his time in Africa, particularly Sweden, and Mozambique, influencing his works significantly. Apart from the Wallander series, Mankell authored numerous standalone novels, plays, and essays, reflecting his broad interests and perspectives on life. His works have been translated into over 40 languages, making him one of Sweden's most popular authors worldwide. Henning Mankell passed away in October 2015, leaving behind a rich literary legacy that continues to captivate readers globally.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself."

This quote by Henning Mankell emphasizes that before seeking to change or transform the world, individuals should focus on self-improvement first. The implication is that personal growth and character development are crucial foundations for any meaningful social or global transformation. Essentially, it suggests that by changing oneself, one can contribute more effectively to positive change in the world at large.


"Death is not the opposite of life but a part of it."

Henning Mankell's quote, "Death is not the opposite of life but a part of it," suggests that death should not be perceived as an antithesis or enemy to life, but rather as an integral aspect of the human experience. In this view, life and death are interconnected phases in a single, continuous journey, reinforcing the idea that both have equal importance and meaning within the cycle of existence. This perspective encourages us to appreciate the transient nature of life, find value in our experiences, and live with purpose, knowing that our end is a natural part of our overall narrative.


"The only thing that makes life possible is permanent, intolerable uncertainty; not knowing what comes next."

Henning Mankell's quote emphasizes the inherent unpredictability and uncertainty that characterizes life. He suggests that this perpetual, intolerable uncertainty is not only a defining aspect of existence but also its fundamental condition for survival. It encourages us to adapt, evolve, and find meaning amidst change, as we are constantly faced with situations where the future outcome remains unknown.


"It is not love that should be hidden. A secret love is a hidden danger."

This quote by Henning Mankell underscores the potential dangers inherent in concealing one's deepest feelings and emotions, particularly romantic love. By keeping love hidden or unacknowledged, we may be suppressing not only our own emotional well-being but also creating risks for those involved. A secret love can foster uncertainty, misunderstandings, and even harm, as it may lead to actions driven by unfulfilled desires or unspoken feelings. Thus, Mankell suggests that openness and honesty in matters of the heart are essential for personal growth, mutual understanding, and emotional health.


"Life is difficult enough without us adding our own suffering to it."

Henning Mankell's quote suggests that unnecessary self-inflicted pain or suffering makes life even more challenging than it inherently is. The statement encourages individuals to strive for emotional wellbeing, mental resilience, and personal harmony, in order to navigate life's difficulties with grace, understanding, and compassion. Essentially, Mankell believes that we should seek to alleviate our own suffering to make the journey through life a little easier and more rewarding.


In Africa, listening is a guiding principle. It's a principle that's been lost in the constant chatter of the Western world, where no one seems to have the time or even the desire to listen to anyone else.

- Henning Mankell

Listening, Africa, Principle, Chatter

Although I never marched through the streets shouting for Mao, I do believe that the liberation of China at the end of the 1940s was a wonderful thing and to provide its people with a billion pairs of shoes and trousers was a fantastic achievement.

- Henning Mankell

Through, Streets, 1940s, Liberation

There is always a sacred hour in the theatre - after rehearsals and before performances, in the afternoon, between three and five o'clock. Normally the theatre is empty then, and this is a wonderful hour.

- Henning Mankell

Wonderful, Always, Before, Rehearsals

I came to Mozambique in 1986, when I first became involved with Teatro Avenida - a theatre company that stages plays concerned with political and social issues.

- Henning Mankell

Concerned, Became, Plays, Stages

The fundamental driving force for me is to create a change in the world we live in... It is about exploitation, plundering and degradation. I have a small possibility to participate in the resistance. Most of the things that I do are part of a resistance, a form of solidarity work.

- Henning Mankell

Small, Part, About, Exploitation

Have I ever written anything that has really changed something? What I believe is that you can't change anything without using art. I believe that the drops wear away the stone. I try to be part of that army.

- Henning Mankell

Art, Away, Using, Stone

Although many of his other novels are brilliant there is a power in 'Oliver Twist' that I believe Dickens never managed to retrieve. It is as if he was sent to this earth with the sole purpose of writing this book.

- Henning Mankell

Book, Purpose, Other, Dickens

For me 'Oliver Twist' is a political novel. It is a furious critique of the treatment of orphans and poor children who were forced to spend their early lives in ghastly institutions.

- Henning Mankell

Treatment, Lives, Forced, Twist

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

Opposite, Made, European, Normally

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

Another, Which, Lives, Normally

When someone asks me to list the 10 best novels ever written, I always refuse to answer.

- Henning Mankell

Best, Always, List, Novels

I think my Wallander stories give a fairly good image of the world in the 1990s. I don't regret anything about that - on the contrary!

- Henning Mankell

Think, Give, Image, 1990s

When I was a very young author, I knew I needed to build myself a tower outside of Europe. Like when you're a hunter, and build towers to watch the animals move. I knew I would never understand the world without that perspective. I came to Africa for that rational reason, although I love Mozambique now.

- Henning Mankell

Love, Reason, Very, Towers

Many words will be written on the wind and the sand, or end up in some obscure digital vault. But the storytelling will go on until the last human being stops listening. Then we can send the great chronicle of humanity out into the endless universe.

- Henning Mankell

Storytelling, Some, Endless, Wind

At the time of independence in 1975, Mozambique was extremely poor. Many Portuguese residents abandoned the country, leaving only a handful of well-educated Mozambicans to try to run the country.

- Henning Mankell

Run, Country, Handful, Portuguese

Well, I believe that life is very complicated. And in a way, the only way you can show life in a truthful way is to show how complicated it is as an individual, but also your relation between a complicated life and the complications you have inside you.

- Henning Mankell

Individual, Show, Very, Truthful

I'm not very much of a reader really, because I find much of it very bad, very uninteresting, very speculative.

- Henning Mankell

Bad, Very, Speculative, Uninteresting

When you are around 60, there are certain things that are completely terrifying. One of them is that you have made the wrong choices in life, and now it's too late to do anything about them.

- Henning Mankell

Too Late, Terrifying, Wrong Choices

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

Newspaper, Mass, Became, New Technology

I would say that during my lifetime, one of the worst political scandals in Sweden was absolutely what happened surrounding the affair of the submarines in Swedish waters in 1982, where there were supposed to be Russian submarines close to Stockholm. And the military of Sweden never got one up.

- Henning Mankell

Lifetime, Stockholm, Got, Affair

Africa was the most exotic place I could conceive of - the end of the world - and I knew I would go there one day.

- Henning Mankell

Africa, Knew, Could, Exotic

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

My Life, Idol, Instrument, Disappeared

I can still remember. I was ill, and I was seven, and my father didn't want me to just read children's books. He came with Conan Doyle. I tried, and I liked it. I think the first I read was 'The Sign of the Four'; 'Study in Scarlet' was the next one. Then I guess I stayed home a few extra days from school to read.

- Henning Mankell

Study, Next, I Think, Extra

It is obviously no secret that I earn a lot of money. But it is also no secret that I give most of it away. I don't live a luxurious life. I drive a small second-hand Fiat. I don't have to worry about money, which is itself a privilege. But I never had any anxiety that I would lose my identity.

- Henning Mankell

Small, Away, About, No Secret

I love Sherlock Holmes. There's still an awful lot to steal from Conan Doyle. But within a tradition you can work in many different ways.

- Henning Mankell

Love, Still, Awful Lot, Sherlock

I'm quite sure Shakespeare enjoyed writing Iago much more than he did writing Othello. If you write about someone you love, what the hell are you supposed to say about that person? It's much better to have something between you and your main character that grates.

- Henning Mankell

Love, About, Main, Main Character

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

Fact, Other, Desires, Defeats

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

Think, Country, Very, Democratic Society

Go to Mozambique! As long as you don't expect to find flawless infrastructure, just go. Because this is a country where people have not quite grown accustomed to tourists. You still feel a genuineness that no longer exists in countries where tourism has been industrially developed.

- Henning Mankell

Country, Feel, Been, Accustomed

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

Country, Will, Misery, Outlook

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