Kathryn Lasky Quotes

Powerful Kathryn Lasky for Daily Growth

About Kathryn Lasky

Kathryn Lasky, born on February 18, 1944, is an acclaimed American writer known for her diverse and captivating body of work spanning various genres. Raised in Boston, Massachusetts, she developed a love for literature at an early age. After graduating from Radcliffe College in 1965, Lasky worked as an editor at Houghton Mifflin Company, where she honed her craft and learned the publishing industry from the inside. In 1973, Lasky published her first book, "The Invasion," a science fiction novel for young adults. This was followed by numerous other novels, including the award-winning "Guardians of Ga'Hoole" series, which tells the story of a group of owl siblings and their quest to save their home from destruction. The series won multiple awards, including the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction, and was adapted into a highly successful animated film series. Lasky is also renowned for her historical fiction, such as the "Dreamer" trilogy, which explores the lives of ancient Egyptians through the eyes of a young girl named Setnayt. Her work often delves into themes of courage, resilience, and the power of the individual in the face of adversity. Throughout her career, Lasky has been influenced by a wide range of authors, from William Shakespeare to Madeleine L'Engle. She is also an advocate for animal rights and often incorporates this passion into her work, such as in the "Temple Cat" series. Kathryn Lasky continues to write and inspire readers with her compelling storytelling and deep character development.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Write every day. Read every day. Be fearless."

Kathryn Lasky's quote emphasizes the importance of consistent writing and reading practice, as well as courage in one's artistic pursuits. "Write every day" suggests a commitment to regular creative output, helping writers build their skills and develop their unique voice over time. "Read every day", on the other hand, encourages an ongoing exploration of literature, expanding one's literary knowledge, broadening perspectives, and stimulating ideas for new writing projects. Lastly, being "fearless" highlights the need to embrace boldness in expressing thoughts, tackling challenging subjects, and taking risks when sharing one's work with others. In summary, this quote underscores the value of discipline, curiosity, and courage in pursuing a meaningful career as a writer.

"To write is to take risks and be willing to fall flat on your face."

This quote emphasizes that the act of writing requires courage, as it involves taking risks with one's ideas, perspectives, and emotions. By putting their thoughts onto paper, writers expose themselves to potential failure or criticism. Yet, despite this vulnerability, they continue, demonstrating resilience and a willingness to learn from their mistakes. In essence, Lasky suggests that the creative process involves embracing risks and learning from setbacks as part of the journey toward artistic growth and success.

"The more you learn about writing, the less you have to worry about getting writer's block."

This quote suggests that as a writer continues to expand their knowledge and skills in the craft of writing, they will encounter fewer instances of "writer's block," or creative paralysis. The reasoning behind this is that with increased understanding comes greater confidence and familiarity with techniques and strategies for generating ideas and moving forward in one's work. In essence, it implies that a well-equipped writer has the necessary tools to tackle the challenges that arise in the creative process.

"Storytelling isn't just about telling stories; it's also about listening to them."

This quote by Kathryn Lasky emphasizes that storytelling is a reciprocal process, not just a one-way conversation. It encourages the idea that as much as we share our own narratives, it's equally important to listen to others' stories. Listening to stories allows us to learn, empathize, and understand different perspectives. In essence, storytelling is about sharing experiences but also about creating a space where those experiences can be heard, validated, and appreciated.

"I always tell kids that the most important thing is to finish what they start and not to give up easily."

This quote emphasizes persistence and completion, implying that starting a task or project is only the beginning. Kathryn Lasky encourages young people not to quit easily but rather to persevere through challenges until they reach the end. Finishing what one starts fosters resilience, self-discipline, and a sense of accomplishment, which are invaluable skills for personal growth and success.

I can read a newspaper article, and it might trigger something else in my mind. I often like to choose in historical fiction things or subject matter I don't feel have been given a fair shake in history.

- Kathryn Lasky

Newspaper, Been, Shake, Trigger

I think Sacajawea was caught in a series of tragic situations - her kidnapping as a child, her being passed from tribe to tribe, being sold into marriage. However, I never thought of her as a tragic figure. I do not think she was a victim in the way we think of tragic figures.

- Kathryn Lasky

Caught, I Think, However, Kidnapping

In terms of the Japanese royal family, they were considered the direct descendants of a god. They are regarded as all-powerful and possessors of unimaginable wealth, and yet they are, more often than not, literally prisoners of tradition.

- Kathryn Lasky

Wealth, More, Considered, Royal Family

With my husband, I have twice sailed across the Atlantic in a sailboat one third the length of the Mayflower. I know Atlantic gales inside and out. I endured one that lasted for three days with winds up to fifty knots.

- Kathryn Lasky

Fifty, Length, Sailboat, Sailed

I was actually very hesitant to write about Marie Antoinette. She seemed at first glance - well, I cannot think of any other term - an airhead of the first degree.

- Kathryn Lasky

Think, Other, Very, None

Never in a million years would I want to live at Versailles with Marie Antoinette or anybody else. I hate to tell you this but I did not even like visiting Versailles. I found it just too ornate. It was like a complete diet of cotton candy, marzipan, and whipped cream.

- Kathryn Lasky

Candy, Anybody, Visiting, None

I think, first and foremost, Marie Antoinette was intellectually impoverished. She really had never been introduced to the notion of abstract thinking - of thinking at all in any profound way.

- Kathryn Lasky

Think, Been, I Think, None

I love thinking of movie stars who could play the characters in the books I write. I think Charlize Theron would make a lovely Marie Antoinette.

- Kathryn Lasky

Love, Play, I Think, None

I have always been fascinated by paleontology and prehistoric people, and I've always thought that one of the most intriguing moments in human history was the birth of artistic imagination. I always loved those cave paintings.

- Kathryn Lasky

Cave, Always, Been, Human History

I think the Lewis and Clark Expedition was the greatest undertaking in American History. I think landing a man on the moon pales next to it.

- Kathryn Lasky

History, Think, Next, Lewis

I am not saying that the Renaissance in any way was a feminist movement - hardly. But the arts flourished, and in more social settings as opposed to being confined to the church.

- Kathryn Lasky

Settings, Opposed, Confined, Hardly

My mother was a great advocate of women's rights, a member of the League of Women's Voters and lifelong member of Planned Parenthood and an advocate of a woman's rights in terms of reproductive issues. She was also a founding member of Common Cause in the state of Indiana.

- Kathryn Lasky

Woman, Voters, Lifelong, Common Cause

It is not a happy lot being a princess in any country, but especially Japan in which every tiny aspect of one's life is governed by the most rigid rules of protocol.

- Kathryn Lasky

Country, Japan, Which, Protocol

I did not find that writing a diary with a lead male character differed in any essential way from writing one with a female character. They all had the same challenges in terms of attempting to establish an identity, coping with loneliness, friendships, relationships.

- Kathryn Lasky

Challenges, Had, Friendships, Establish

When I was growing up I loved reading historical fiction, but too often it was about males; or, if it was about females, they were girls who were going to grow up to be famous like Betsy Ross, Clara Barton, or Harriet Tubman. No one ever wrote about plain, normal, everyday girls.

- Kathryn Lasky

Fiction, Historical, About, Everyday

Whether you are a twelve-year-old princess or a twelve-year-old regular kid, you need to know you are loved and respected.

- Kathryn Lasky

Loved, Need, Whether, Regular

I feel I was always daydreaming, and I was always distracted.

- Kathryn Lasky

Feel, Always, I Feel, Daydreaming

In our community here in Boston, we have had a tremendous influx of Russian Jews and Haitians. We call these people immigrants. But they come for the same reasons that William Bradford and William Brewster and John Carver came.

- Kathryn Lasky

Boston, Here, Reasons, Carver

Thinking - in particular abstract thinking, which most of us are introduced to through the study of mathematics and literature - helps us learn that we can become problem solvers.

- Kathryn Lasky

Study, Through, Which, Helps

I hate to tell you this, but I did not even like visiting Versailles. I found it just too ornate. It was like a complete diet of cotton candy, marzipan, and whipped cream. It gave me the mental equivalent of one of those toothaches you get when you bite into something too sweet.

- Kathryn Lasky

Candy, Equivalent, Visiting, Versailles

Manic depressive people often have incredible energy and a slightly skewed, but nonetheless valid, way of looking at things.

- Kathryn Lasky

Incredible, Often, Slightly, Manic

I treat all my characters as if they were real, and I am scrupulous about the details of their lives.

- Kathryn Lasky

Treat, About, Lives, Details

I came from a home where everybody had a book.

- Kathryn Lasky

Book, Everybody, Came, I Came

To me, the most important thing is to tell a good story. If I can do that, I think that enlightenment, respect of nature, etc. follows.

- Kathryn Lasky

Think, The Most Important, Etc

I love thinking of movie stars who could play the characters in the books I write.

- Kathryn Lasky

Love, Play, Movie, Movie Stars

I believe that reading widely is the best preparation for writing.

- Kathryn Lasky

Writing, I Believe That, Widely

I loved to read, and if I could've been a professional reader, that's probably what I would've wanted to be!

- Kathryn Lasky

Loved, Been, Read, Professional

Mary Queen of Scots is the most 'normal' girl who became a queen that I have ever written about.

- Kathryn Lasky

Normal, Mary, Became, Queen

I always wondered what it was like to be just a normal kid growing up in trying times or during a great moment in history.

- Kathryn Lasky

Normal, Always, Like, Wondered

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