274 Quotes by Rebecca West

It is astonishing how the human animal survives its misfortunes.

Human beings are mercifully so constituted as to be able to conceal from themselves what they intend to do until they are well into the doing of it.

If the poor ever feel poor as the rich do, we will have a most bloody revolution.

every human activity, whether it be love, philosophy, art, or revolution, is carried on with a special intensity in Paris.

There is no escape from mystery. It is the character of our being.

Neurotics, who cause less distress to themselves and their neighbours than those in the other category, are at war with their own natures. Their right hands are in conflict with their left. Psychotics, and it is those who commit purposeless crimes and prefer death to life, are at war with their environment. Right and left hands strike against the womb that carries them.

Reason’s a thing we dimly see in sleep.

I’ve never been able to do just one draft. That seems a wonderful thing. Do you know anyone who can?

There are two kinds of imperialists – imperialists and bloody imperialists.