The past is really almost as much a work of the imagination as the future. Jessamyn West More Quotes by Jessamyn West More Quotes From Jessamyn West Talent is helpful in writing, but guts are absolutely necessary. Jessamyn West helpfulcouragewriting A religious awakening which does not awaken the sleeper to love has roused him in vain. Jessamyn West religiousinspiringlove 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. Jessamyn West being-alonewritingfriendship Fiction reveals truths that reality obscures. Jessamyn West truthattitudehappiness 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. Jessamyn West communicationignorancetwo It is very easy to forgive others their mistakes; it takes more grit and gumption to forgive them for having witnessed your own. Jessamyn West forgivenesseastermistake A good time for laughing is when you can. Jessamyn West inspirationallaughingfunny A broken bone can heal, but the wound a word opens can fester forever. Jessamyn West bonesbroken-heartforever I've done more harm by the falseness of trying to please than by the honesty of trying to hurt. Jessamyn West honestyhurttrying Nothing is so dear as what you're about to leave. Jessamyn West dear-goddear You make what seems a simple choice: choose a man or a job or a neighborhood- and what you have chosen is not a man or a job or a neighborhood, but a life. Jessamyn West simplejobsmen Writing is so difficult that I feel that writers, having had their hell on earth, will escape all punishment hereafter. Jessamyn West punishmentearthwriting I am always jumping into the sausage grinder and deciding, even before I’m half ground, that I don’t want to be a sausage after all. Jessamyn West sausagejumpinghalf Each death and departure comes to us as a surprise, a sorrow never anticipated. Life is a long series of farewells; only the circumstances should surprise us. Jessamyn West farewellgrievinglong 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. Jessamyn West lost-lovehumorheart We can love an honest rogue, but what is more offensive than a false saint? Jessamyn West rogueshonestsaint One can write out of love or hate. Hate tells one a great deal about a person. Love makes one become the person. Love, contrary to legend, is not half as blind, at least for writing purposes, as hate. Love can see the evil and not cease to be love. Hate cannot see the good and remain hate. The writer, writing out of hatred, will, thus, paint a far more partial picture than if he had written out of love. Jessamyn West hateevilwriting There is no royal path to good writing; and such paths as exist do not lead through neat critical gardens, various as they are, but through the jungles of self, the world, and of craft. Jessamyn West gardenselfwriting Sleeplessness is a desert without vegetation or inhabitants. Jessamyn West desertinsomniasleep A rattlesnake that doesn't bite teaches you nothing. Jessamyn West rattlesnakesteachchallenges
