I remember World War II when there were very few books, very little paper available. For me to walk into a shop or look at a list and see anything that I want, or almost anything, is like a kind of miracle. Doris Lessing bookkindlist share on social
I always hated Tony Blair, from the beginning. Doris Lessing beginblairhate Change image and share on social
I was writing all my childhood. And I wrote two novels when I was 17, which were terrible. And I'm not sorry I threw them out. So, I wrote. I had to write. You know, the thing was, I had no education. Doris Lessing childhoodeducationnovel Change image and share on social
When I started, there were no big interviews, no television, no profiles and all that. The publishers were quite shockingly uncommercial, but they did look after their writers. Doris Lessing biginterviewprofile Change image and share on social
With a library you are free, not confined by temporary political climates. It is the most democratic of institutions because no one - but no one at all - can tell you what to read and when and how. Doris Lessing climateconfinedemocratic Change image and share on social
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. Doris Lessing bodychangeconfusion Change image and share on social
There are no laws for the novel. There never have been, nor can there ever be. Doris Lessing law Change image and share on social
You cannot escape the fact that women mould your first five years, whether you like it or not. And I can't say I do like it very much. Doris Lessing escapefactmould Change image and share on social
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 capablelovepretend Change image and share on social
