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38 Insightful Quotes By Rebecca West That Sum Up The Beauty Of Life

Famous As: Writer
Born On: December 21, 1892
Died On: March 15, 1983
Born In: London, England
Died At Age: 90

Rebecca West was a celebrated British travel writer, journalist, author, and literary critic. She not only wrote books in various genres, but also reviewed books for ‘The Sunday Telegraph,’ ‘The Times,’ ‘The New Republic,’ and ‘The New York Herald Tribune.’ Some of her distinguished works include ‘A Train of Powder,’ ‘The Meaning of Treason,’ ‘Black Lamb and Grey Falcon,’ ‘The Return of the Soldier,’ ‘The Fountain Overflows,’ besides many others. She was awarded the ‘Benson Medal’ by the ‘Royal Society of Literature U.K.’ Following is a collection of quotes by Rebecca West, which have been collected from her essays, interviews, books, novels, writings, and public utterances. Let us browse through the words of wisdom by Rebecca West on communication, journalism, challenge, ability, history, tears, humanity, peace, sarcastic, women, strength, etc.

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I myself have never been able to find out precisely what feminism is: I only know that people call me a feminist whenever I express sentiments that differentiate me from a doormat.

I myself have never been able to find out precisely what feminism is: I only know that people call me a feminist whenever I express sentiments that differentiate me from a doormat.

Rebecca West
I myself have never been able to find out precisely what feminism is: I only know that people call me a feminist whenever I express sentiments that differentiate me from a doormat, or a prostitute.

I myself have never been able to find out precisely what feminism is: I only know that people call me a feminist whenever I express sentiments that differentiate me from a doormat, or a prostitute.

Rebecca West
You must always believe that life is as extraordinary as music says it is.

You must always believe that life is as extraordinary as music says it is.

Rebecca West
[N]obody likes having salt rubbed into their wounds, even if it is the salt of the earth.

[N]obody likes having salt rubbed into their wounds, even if it is the salt of the earth.

Rebecca West
The main difference between men and women is that men are lunatics and women are idiots.

The main difference between men and women is that men are lunatics and women are idiots.

Rebecca West
It's the soul's duty to be loyal to its own desires. It must abandon itself to its master passion.

It's the soul's duty to be loyal to its own desires. It must abandon itself to its master passion.

Rebecca West
The world is round and the place which may seem like the end may also be only the beginning.

The world is round and the place which may seem like the end may also be only the beginning.

Rebecca West
The trouble about man is twofold. He cannot learn truths which are too complicated; he forgets truths which are too simple.

The trouble about man is twofold. He cannot learn truths which are too complicated; he forgets truths which are too simple.

Rebecca West
There was a definite process by which one made people into friends, and it involved talking to them and listening to them for hours at a time.

There was a definite process by which one made people into friends, and it involved talking to them and listening to them for hours at a time.

Rebecca West
Before a war military science seems a real science, like astronomy; but after a war it seems more like astrology.

Before a war military science seems a real science, like astronomy; but after a war it seems more like astrology.

Rebecca West
People call me a feminist whenever I express statements that distinguish me from a doormat.

People call me a feminist whenever I express statements that distinguish me from a doormat.

Rebecca West
Everyone realizes that one can believe little of what people say about each other, but it is not so widely realized that even less can one trust what people say about themselves.

Everyone realizes that one can believe little of what people say about each other, but it is not so widely realized that even less can one trust what people say about themselves.

Rebecca West
Any authentic work of art must start an argument between the artist and his audience.

Any authentic work of art must start an argument between the artist and his audience.

Rebecca West
Just how difficult it is to write biography can be reckoned by anybody who sits down and considers just how many people know the real truth about his or her love affairs.

Just how difficult it is to write biography can be reckoned by anybody who sits down and considers just how many people know the real truth about his or her love affairs.

Rebecca West
It isn't only living people who die, it is great stretches of living, which can die even when the people who lived there still exist.

It isn't only living people who die, it is great stretches of living, which can die even when the people who lived there still exist.

Rebecca West
For the sake of my country, and perhaps a little for the sake of my soul, I have given up the deep peace of being in opposition.

For the sake of my country, and perhaps a little for the sake of my soul, I have given up the deep peace of being in opposition.

Rebecca West
It is always one's virtues and not one's vices that precipitate one into disaster.

It is always one's virtues and not one's vices that precipitate one into disaster.

Rebecca West
I had come to Yugoslavia to see what history meant in flesh and blood.

I had come to Yugoslavia to see what history meant in flesh and blood.

Rebecca West
Reason's a thing we dimly see in sleep.

Reason's a thing we dimly see in sleep.

Rebecca West
She did not suddenly start being disagreeable this afternoon, she was so good at it, she had evidently practised whatever are the scales and arpeggios of rudeness every day of her life.

She did not suddenly start being disagreeable this afternoon, she was so good at it, she had evidently practised whatever are the scales and arpeggios of rudeness every day of her life.

Rebecca West
...[A] rebel who is inaccurate and mad is a traitor.

...[A] rebel who is inaccurate and mad is a traitor.

Rebecca West
It's my profession to bring people from various outlying districts of the mind to the normal. There seems to be a general feeling it's the place where they ought to be. Sometimes I don't see the urgency myself.

It's my profession to bring people from various outlying districts of the mind to the normal. There seems to be a general feeling it's the place where they ought to be. Sometimes I don't see the urgency myself.

Rebecca West
She repaid us by giving life the quality that but for her was only to be found in music

She repaid us by giving life the quality that but for her was only to be found in music

Rebecca West
The world had gone too far in its enthusiasm for moderation and the thing had to be stopped

The world had gone too far in its enthusiasm for moderation and the thing had to be stopped

Rebecca West
I always have beauty around me, for I have but to go to my piano, and trace one of the million designs that have been made by my masters.

I always have beauty around me, for I have but to go to my piano, and trace one of the million designs that have been made by my masters.

Rebecca West
There is, of course, no reason for the existence of the male sex except that sometimes one needs help with moving the piano.

There is, of course, no reason for the existence of the male sex except that sometimes one needs help with moving the piano.

Rebecca West
She understood children, and knew that they were adults handicapped by a humiliating disguise and had their adult qualities within them.

She understood children, and knew that they were adults handicapped by a humiliating disguise and had their adult qualities within them.

Rebecca West
Now I recall my emotions at that moment, children seem to me a remarkable race. They want so much to murder so many people, and they so rarely murder anybody at all.

Now I recall my emotions at that moment, children seem to me a remarkable race. They want so much to murder so many people, and they so rarely murder anybody at all.

Rebecca West
We disgust works of art by our meaninglessness, our diffuseness in time which lets us drift through three score years and ten without a quarter as much significance as a picture establishes instantaneously

We disgust works of art by our meaninglessness, our diffuseness in time which lets us drift through three score years and ten without a quarter as much significance as a picture establishes instantaneously

Rebecca West
She looked as if she were about to burst into tears, but she was wonderful at catching the ball of her own mood in mid-air.

She looked as if she were about to burst into tears, but she was wonderful at catching the ball of her own mood in mid-air.

Rebecca West