Doris Lessing Quotes

Doris Lessing was a British-Zimbabwean author known for her novels, short stories, and essays. She was one of the major literary voices of the 20th century. Lessing's works often explored social and political issues, as well as themes of identity, feminism, and human relationships. She was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2007 for her profound and visionary writing. Lessing's diverse body of work and her impact on literature have left a lasting legacy, influencing subsequent generations of writers and readers. Her novels, including "The Golden Notebook" and "The Grass Is Singing," continue to be regarded as classics of modern literature.

Man, who is he? Too bad, to be the work of God: To... -Doris Lessing

Man, who is he? Too bad, to be the work of God: Too good for the work of chance!

Discovering the context

This quote reflects a contemplation on the nature of humanity. It suggests that the speaker questions the origins and purpose of humankind. It implies that the speaker perceives humanity as possessing qualities that are too imperfect to be solely the creation of a divine being but also too remarkable to be mere products of random chance. It highlights the speaker's musings on the complexity andmeaningful existence of human beings, raising philosophical questions about the nature of humanity and its place in the world.

There is only one real sin and that is to persuade oneself that the second best is anything but second best.

What really fascinates me is this need that is so strong now that if you read a work of the imagination you instantly have to say, 'Oh, what this really is is so-and-so,' reducing it to a simple formula.

I think kids ought to travel. I think it's very good to carry kids around. It's good for them. Of course it's tough on the parents.

I don't know much about creative writing programs. But they're not telling the truth if they don't teach, one, that writing is hard work, and, two, that you have to give up a great deal of life, your personal life, to be a writer.

The great secret that all old people share is that you really haven't changed in seventy or eighty years. Your body changes, but you don't change at all. And that, of course, causes great confusion.

In university they don't tell you that the greater... -Doris Lessing

In university they don't tell you that the greater part of the law is learning to tolerate fools.

I do not think that marriage is one of my talents.... -Doris Lessing

I do not think that marriage is one of my talents. I've been much happier unmarried than married.

Trust no friend without faults, and love a woman, ... -Doris Lessing

Trust no friend without faults, and love a woman, but no angel.

Discovering the context

This quote advises caution in fully trusting friends who have faults or flaws, while also cautioning against placing absolute trust in women (represented as angels). It implies a belief in the need for discernment and realistic expectations in relationships, recognizing that no one is perfect. The quote reflects a nuanced perspective on trust and love in human connections.

It is terrible to destroy a person's picture of himself in the interests of truth or some other abstraction.

That is what learning is. You suddenly understand something you've understood all your life, but in a new way.

Humanity's legacy of stories and storytelling is the most precious we have. All wisdom is in our stories and songs. A story is how we construct our experiences. At the very simplest, it can be: 'He/she was born, lived, died.' Probably that is the template of our stories - a beginning, middle, and end. This structure is in our minds.

Doris Lessing Quotes

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