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Nina Bawden Quotes

Powerful Nina Bawden for Daily Growth

About Nina Bawden

Nina Bawden (1925-2016) was an acclaimed British novelist and children's writer, renowned for her poignant storytelling and insightful portrayals of complex characters. Born on April 3, 1925, in London, England, she grew up in the suburbs and developed a love for literature at an early age. Her father was a naval officer, which led to frequent moves during her childhood, providing her with diverse experiences and broadening her worldview. After attending King's College School for Girls, Bawden went on to study English Literature at St Hilda's College, Oxford. It was during this time that she began writing seriously, and her first novel, "A Country of Strangers," was published in 1957. The book explores the themes of identity, belonging, and the impact of war on individuals, reflecting Bawden's own experiences growing up during World War II. In the 1960s, Bawden turned her focus to writing for children, and her most famous work in this genre, "The Peppermint Pig," was published in 1975. The story of a beloved pig toy and its journey through various hands, it captured the hearts of young readers and remains a cherished classic today. Bawden's children's books often contained themes of loss, growth, and resilience, demonstrating her deep understanding of human nature. Among her other notable works are "Carrie's War" (1973), which won the Carnegie Medal for Children's Literature, and "Circle of Sand" (1982), which was shortlisted for the same award. Throughout her life, Bawden's work was influenced by her experiences, her love for storytelling, and her keen observation of human nature. She passed away on November 23, 2016, leaving behind a lasting legacy in both adult and children's literature. Her works continue to captivate readers with their emotional depth, thoughtful storylines, and enduring themes.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"The greatest thing in this world is to know where you come from and where you're going."

This quote emphasizes the importance of understanding one's roots (where you come from) and having a clear direction for the future (where you're going). Knowing your origins helps shape your identity, values, and perspective on life. Meanwhile, having a defined goal or purpose provides direction, motivation, and a sense of fulfillment in life. Understanding both allows one to live with intention and meaning.

"There are two kinds of people, those who do the work and those who take the credit. Try, if you can, to be in the first class."

This quote by Nina Bawden highlights a common observation that often, there exists a distinction between individuals who carry out the actual labor or tasks (those who "do the work") and those who reap the benefits, recognition, or credit for it (those who "take the credit"). The author encourages readers to strive to be part of the first category, suggesting that personal fulfillment and integrity come from hard work and dedication rather than seeking validation through taking credit.

"Real life is always more exciting than fiction because it's unpredictable."

This quote by Nina Bawden highlights that real life, unlike fiction, is inherently unpredictable. The unpredictability of real-life events adds an element of excitement that cannot be replicated in a planned narrative. It suggests that the spontaneity and randomness encountered in daily experiences provide a depth and intrigue that make them more captivating than scripted stories.

"Everything you need for your entire life you will learn in kindergarten."

This quote suggests that the fundamental skills, values, and behaviors essential for a fulfilling life are primarily learned during early childhood, specifically kindergarten age. These include social interactions, cooperation, empathy, creativity, and independence - lessons that form the foundation for personal growth, relationships, and overall well-being as an adult. In essence, the quote underscores the importance of fostering a strong emotional, intellectual, and social development during a child's earliest years.

"I don't think there's anything more important than being happy, but happiness only lasts a short time - joy gives and gives and gives, long after the initial event is over."

This quote emphasizes the distinction between temporary emotions like happiness, which often depend on specific circumstances or events, and deeper feelings such as joy. Happiness, though valuable, tends to be fleeting, whereas joy is more enduring. Joy continues to give and enrich our lives long after the initial cause has passed, making it a far more profound and fulfilling experience. The message encourages us to strive not only for happiness but also to cultivate the deeper sense of joy that provides lasting satisfaction and enrichment in life.

I like stirring the pot - I think it's part of my duty, to shake people up a bit - make them look at things in a different way.

- Nina Bawden

Think, Shake, I Think, Pot

If you are going to make companies, corporations, actually responsible for the safety of other people's lives, then if they fail in their duty, the only thing to prevent them failing in their duty is the fear that they would be put behind bars.

- Nina Bawden

Behind, Other, Put, Bars

I was born in a small suburb of Ilford in a rather nasty housing estate that my mother despised. She had grown up in the country, so when the war came and I was evacuated to Wales she thought I was much better off there.

- Nina Bawden

Small, Country, Despised, Nasty

I was cleaning out the pigsty at a farm in Wales, where my mother had rented a room, when the results of my final school exam were handed to me by the postman, along with the news that I had a state scholarship to Oxford. I had waited for this letter for so many weeks that I had abandoned hope, deciding that I had failed ignominiously.

- Nina Bawden

Had, Weeks, Handed, Waited

All writers are liars. They twist events to suit themselves. They make use of their own tragedies to make a better story... They are terrible people.

- Nina Bawden

Own, Liars, Use, Twist

I dislike the word 'victim.' I dislike being told that I 'lost' my husband - as if I had idly abandoned you by the side of the railway track like an unwanted pair of old shoes.

- Nina Bawden

Dislike, Like, Side, Railway

One good reason for writing novels based on your life is that you have something to read in old age when you've forgotten what happened.

- Nina Bawden

Reason, Based, Read, Novels

People who don't read seem to me mysterious. I don't know how they think or learn about other people. Novels are a very important part of our education.

- Nina Bawden

Think, Other, Very, Novels

But I don't write about sex for today's teenagers. Or Doc Martens boots either. I'm more interested in exploring how exactly the world is run, which doesn't really change that much from one generation to another.

- Nina Bawden

Run, Another, About, Boots

The train we had so confidently boarded had been speeding at almost 100 miles an hour and it had derailed. Someone, I can't remember who, showed me a newspaper photograph of the carriage we had been sitting in tilted on its side on a station platform next to a large notice that said Welcome to Potters Bar.

- Nina Bawden

Newspaper, Next, Been, Confidently

People's lives are in the care of the railways when they get on a train. The railways should remember that.

- Nina Bawden

Remember, Get, Lives, Train

Margaret Thatcher was in my year, and our first-year college photograph shows us standing side by side in the back row. We were both grammar school girls on state scholarships.

- Nina Bawden

College, Year, Side, None

At 11, I passed the scholarship - only just; I wasn't very good at maths - to Ilford County High for Girls. When the Second World War started we were evacuated, first of all to Ipswich, and then to Aberdare, Queen of the Valleys, in south Wales.

- Nina Bawden

Queen, Very, South, First Of All

Ten thousand pounds is the legal value of a negligently taken life, of a child or a parent. A cold and somewhat mean-spirited calculation: you would do better if you slipped on a paving-stone and broke a front tooth.

- Nina Bawden

Parent, Broke, Calculation, Tooth

I grew up on a suburban street with lace curtains and dull neighbours, so I made up stories to tell my friend, in which they became serial killers and burglars. She told her mother, who then told mine.

- Nina Bawden

Tell, Curtains, Became, Serial

I met my second husband on a bus. We looked at each other and that was it. We were both married to other people at the time and behaved badly, but we didn't seem to have any choice. We were very happy for nearly 50 years and would still be together if it wasn't for the bloody railways.

- Nina Bawden

Bus, Very, Badly, Behaved

The murder of my husband by the railways has altered the way I think about everything. I had always thought that the majority of people were decent and honourable. In the wake of the crash, what made me angry more than anything else was the realisation that this was not true. I still find it very hard to come to terms with.

- Nina Bawden

Thought, I Think, Very, Railways

Adults get more confused by social worker jargon. Unlike children, they are also less likely to see two sides of an argument, and they no longer think they can make the world a better place. That can make them rather boring, I suppose.

- Nina Bawden

Two, Argument, Rather, Jargon

I've never found it made the slightest difference being a woman - though there is a sort of feeling that as you get older you're not so interesting.

- Nina Bawden

Woman, Made, Though, Slightest

Life isn't so complicated for children. They have more time to think about the really important things. That's why I occasionally moralise in my children's books in a way I wouldn't dare when writing for adults.

- Nina Bawden

Think, More, About, Occasionally

I hope in my books I help children to see their strengths, and show them I have some idea of what they may occasionally be going through. Especially at tricky moments when it is easier to go back and evade things rather than go forwards and confront them.

- Nina Bawden

Through, Some, Forwards, Occasionally

I am not a victim. I am an angry survivor.

- Nina Bawden

I Am, Angry, Am, Victim

I would hate to live in the country, unless I was living on a farm.

- Nina Bawden

Living, Country, Would, Farm

There are many times when I think I would have rather died with my husband. It would have been pleasanter, simpler. But it would have been worse for the children and the family in general.

- Nina Bawden

Think, Been, I Think, Simpler

I met Richard Burton, an RAF cadet on a two-term course. I would have flirted more enthusiastically if it had not been for the horrid boils on the back of his neck.

- Nina Bawden

More, Been, Richard, Neck

I wanted to be a war reporter - scrabbling around, exposing things. I didn't want to go to university, I wanted to get a job, but Auntie Beryl said I should go to Oxford.

- Nina Bawden

Want, Go, University, Reporter

Children often have a much stronger concept of morality than adults.

- Nina Bawden

Children, Stronger, Morality, Adult

I like writing for children. It seems to me that most people underestimate their understanding and the strength of their feelings and in my books for them I try to put this right.

- Nina Bawden

Strength, Like, Them, Underestimate

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