We shouldn't be saying 'Save the planet'; we should be saying: 'Save viable conditions in which people can live.' That's what we're dealing with here. Margaret Atwood conditiondeallive Change image and share on social
I spent much of my childhood in northern Quebec, and often there was no radio, no television - there wasn't a lot to entertain us. When it rained, I stayed inside reading, writing, drawing. Margaret Atwood childhooddrawentertain Change image and share on social
Heroes need monsters to establish their heroic credentials. You need something scary to overcome. Margaret Atwood credentialestablishhero Change image and share on social
The myth that everyone once read great literature is just a myth. Margaret Atwood greatliteraturemyth Change image and share on social
Reading and writing, like everything else, improve with practice. And, of course, if there are no young readers and writers, there will shortly be no older ones. Literacy will be dead, and democracy - which many believe goes hand in hand with it - will be dead as well. Margaret Atwood deaddemocracyhand share on social
Some bioengineering is good, especially if it results in plants that are more drought-resistant or perennial food crops. Margaret Atwood bioengineercropdrought Change image and share on social
The society in 'The Handmaid's Tale' is a throwback to the early Puritans whom I studied extensively at Harvard under Perry Miller, to whom the book is dedicated. Margaret Atwood bookdedicateearly Change image and share on social
There's a difference between describing and evoking something. You can describe something and be quite clinical about it. To evoke it, you call it up in the reader. That's what writers do when they're good. Margaret Atwood callclinicaldescribe share on social
I'm a person of whim, and easily distracted. I don't like multitasking. When I'm doing one thing, I like to do just that thing. Margaret Atwood distracteasilymultitask Change image and share on social
Debt is part of the human condition. Civilization is based on exchanges - on gifts, trades, loans - and the revenges and insults that come when they are not paid back. Margaret Atwood backbasecivilization Change image and share on social