Doris Lessing

Doris Lessing is a British writer, born Doris May Tayler. In October 2007 Lessing became the eleventh woman to be awarded the Nobel Prize for literature in its 106-year history, and its oldest recipient ever.

Found 13 thoughts of Doris Lessing

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

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.

Any human anywhere will blossom in a hundred unexpected talents and capacities simply by being given the opportunity to do so.

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

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.

What's terrible is to pretend that second-rate is first-rate. To pretend that you don't need love when you do; or you like your work when you know quite well you're capable of better.

Some people obtain fame, others deserve it.

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

Think wrongly if you please, but in all cases think for yourself.

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

There are no laws for the novel. There never have been, nor can there ever be.

All sanity depends on this: that it should be a delight to feel heat strike the skin, a delight to stand upright, knowing the bones are moving easily under the flesh.

A simple grateful thought turned heavenwards is the most perfect prayer.