Jessamyn West

Writing is a solitary occupation. Family, friends, and society are the natural enemies of the writer. He must be alone, uninterrupted, and slightly savage if he is to sustain and complete an undertaking.

alone


Jessamyn West

There are two barriers that often prevent communication between the young and their elders. The first is middle-aged forgetfulness of the fact that they themselves are no longer young. The second is youthful ignorance of the fact that the middle aged are still alive.

communication


Jessamyn West

Faithfulness to the past can be a kind of death above ground. Writing of the past is a resurrection the past then lives in your words and you are free.

death


Jessamyn West

It is very east to forgive others their mistakes it takes more grit and gumption to forgive them for having witnessed your own.

forgiveness


Jessamyn West

The past is really almost as much a work of the imagination as the future.

future


Jessamyn West

The past is really almost as much a work of the imagination as the future.

history


Jessamyn West

A taste for irony has kept more hearts from breaking than a sense of humor, for it takes irony to appreciate the joke which is on oneself.

humor


Jessamyn West

Fiction reveals truths that reality obscures.

imagination


Jessamyn West

The past is really almost as much a work of the imagination as the future.

imagination


Jessamyn West

Teaching is the royal road to learning.

learning


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