Doris Lessing Quotes

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Doris Lessing

Profession : Writer

Birth : October 22, 1919

Literature is analysis after the event.

Doris Lessing

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

Doris Lessing

My father was in the First World War.

Doris Lessing

Some people obtain fame, others deserve it.

Doris Lessing

For the last third of life there remains only work. It alone is always stimulating, rejuvenating, exciting and satisfying.

Doris Lessing

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

Doris Lessing

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.

Doris Lessing

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.

Doris Lessing

What is a hero without love for mankind.

Doris Lessing

I hate Iran. I hate the Iranian government. It's a cruel and evil government.

Doris Lessing

I'll be pleased when I'm dead. That will let me off worrying about all these wars.

Doris Lessing

You can't be a Red if you're married to a civil servant.

Doris Lessing

There is nothing more boring for an intelligent woman than to spend endless amounts of time with small children.

Doris Lessing

God knows why nobody ever learns from the preceding generation - but they don't.

Doris Lessing

I think a lot of romanticizing has gone on with the women's movement.

Doris Lessing

What society doesn't realize is that in the past, ordinary people respected learning. They respected books, and they don't now, or not very much. That whole respect for serious literature and learning has disappeared.

Doris Lessing

My father was always so mingled with rage at his life.

Doris Lessing

It is very enjoyable, writing a story. You get this idea. It takes hold of you. And then you spend day and night thinking about how to do it. And then you do it. And much later, you think, 'Oh, yes. That's an interesting question.'

Doris Lessing

Space or science fiction has become a dialect for our time.

Doris Lessing

It's lovely to have money to give away - that's the bonus of winning the Nobel.

Doris Lessing