Rebecca West Quotes

Powerful Rebecca West for Daily Growth

About Rebecca West

Rebecca West (born Cicely Isabel Fairfield), a prominent British novelist, journalist, and literary critic, was born on November 21, 1892, in North London, England. She adopted the pen name Rebecca West to distinguish herself from her mother, also named Cicely. Her father, Major Charles Fairfield, served as a British Army officer. West's early life was marked by instability due to her family's frequent relocations and her father's mental illness. This upbringing likely influenced her development of an analytical mindset and keen social observation skills, traits that would later be evident in her works. In 1913, West published her first novel, "The Hand of the Prophet," which gained mixed reviews. However, it was her subsequent work, "The Return of the Soldier" (1918), a poignant exploration of love, memory, and war, that solidified her literary reputation. West's most renowned work is "Black Lamb and Grey Falcon," a travelogue and history of Yugoslavia published in 1941. This expansive, semi-autobiographical work combines the author's personal experiences with historical research and political analysis, providing a rich tapestry of the region's culture and politics. West was also an influential journalist, contributing to various British and American publications such as The New Yorker and The Manchester Guardian. Her journalistic works often tackled controversial topics, including feminism, nationalism, and politics. Rebecca West's life and work reflect a deep interest in social justice, feminism, and the human condition, making her a significant figure in 20th-century literature. She passed away on March 15, 1983, leaving behind a lasting legacy as a groundbreaking author and journalist.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"I myself have never been able to find out exactly what feminism is: I only know that people call me a feminist whenever I express sentiments that differentiate me from a doormat."

This quote by Rebecca West suggests that the label of 'feminist' is applied to women who assert their rights and independence, challenging societal norms that often relegate women to passive roles. In other words, anyone who doesn't conform to traditional, submissive gender roles may be labeled as a feminist, implying that standing up for one's own rights and beliefs is an inherently feminist act.


"The future is dark, which is the only thing we can be sure of."

This quote by Rebecca West suggests that the unknown nature of what lies ahead (the future) is a certainty. It implies a sense of uncertainty, mystery, or unpredictability about what will happen next. This perspective may inspire reflection on being prepared for various possibilities and adapting to change, while also encouraging a level of cautious optimism amidst the ambiguity.


"Fascism should more appropriately be called corporatism because it is a merger of state and corporate power."

The quote highlights that Fascism, as a political ideology, can be better described as Corporatism due to its characteristic blend of corporate business interests with government authority. This symbiotic relationship allows large corporations to exert undue influence over the state, leading to centralized control and suppression of individual rights for the benefit of economic elites. The quote suggests that Fascist regimes are more about big business dominating the political landscape than any genuine pursuit of ideological principles.


"There are two kinds of people, those who do the work, and those who take the credit. Try to be in the first class, there's less competition."

This quote emphasizes the importance of hard work and humility in life. It suggests that success often comes from doing the necessary tasks or "the work" rather than just taking credit for others' efforts. The message encourages individuals to strive for a mindset of contribution and diligence instead of seeking recognition, as there are typically fewer people with this attitude, thus making it easier to stand out positively in life.


"You can't go home again, you can't step in the same river twice."

This quote by Rebecca West suggests that change is a constant in life, making it impossible to return to the exact state or conditions of the past. The river metaphor implies that each moment in time is unique and flowing, and as such, one cannot step into the same river twice because the water has moved on. Similarly, we can't go back home again as our experiences, perspectives, and circumstances have evolved over time, making our "home" or familiar surroundings fundamentally altered. In essence, this quote underscores that life is a journey marked by change and growth, and one must embrace the present moment rather than trying to recapture the past.


We all drew on the comfort which is given out by the major works of Mozart, which is as real and material as the warmth given up by a glass of brandy.

- Rebecca West

Glass, Which, Given, Warmth

Journalism: an ability to meet the challenge of filling the space.

- Rebecca West

Challenge, Meet, Ability, Filling

I myself have never been able to find out precisely what feminism is: I only know that people call me a feminist whenever I express sentiments that differentiate me from a doormat.

- Rebecca West

Myself, Express, Been, Sentiments

Motherhood is the strangest thing, it can be like being one's own Trojan horse.

- Rebecca West

Mom, Horse, Like, Strangest

The main difference between men and women is that men are lunatics and women are idiots.

- Rebecca West

Men, Difference, Main, Women Are

Did St. Francis preach to the birds? Whatever for? If he really liked birds he would have done better to preach to the cats.

- Rebecca West

Birds, Whatever, Done, Francis

There is no such thing as conversation. It is an illusion. There are intersecting monologues, that is all.

- Rebecca West

Illusion, Monologues, Thing, Conversation

It is always one's virtues and not one's vices that precipitate one into disaster.

- Rebecca West

Disaster, Always, Virtues, Vices

There is no wider gulf in the universe than yawns between those on the hither and thither side of vital experience.

- Rebecca West

Universe, Side, Wider, Gulf

All men should have a drop of treason in their veins, if nations are not to go soft like so many sleepy pears.

- Rebecca West

Drop, Like, Treason, Pears

Life ought to be a struggle of desire toward adventures whose nobility will fertilize the soul.

- Rebecca West

Life, Nobility, Toward, Struggle

There is in every one of us an unending see-saw between the will to live and the will to die.

- Rebecca West

Die, Will, Every, Unending

Just how difficult it is to write biography can be reckoned by anybody who sits down and considers just how many people know the real truth about his or her love affairs.

- Rebecca West

Love, Anybody, Considers, Affairs

I wonder if we are all wrong about each other, if we are just composing unwritten novels about the people we meet?

- Rebecca West

Other, About, Unwritten, Novels

The American struggle for the vote was much more difficult than the English for the simple reason that it was much more easy.

- Rebecca West

Reason, More, Simple Reason, Struggle

God forbid that any book should be banned. The practice is as indefensible as infanticide.

- Rebecca West

Book, Practice, Indefensible, Banned

International relationships are preordained to be clumsy gestures based on imperfect knowledge.

- Rebecca West

Relationships, Based, International

I only know that people call me a feminist whenever I express sentiments that differentiate me from a doormat or a prostitute.

- Rebecca West

People, Express, Sentiments, Differentiate

People call me a feminist whenever I express sentiments that differentiate me from a doormat or a prostitute.

- Rebecca West

Me, Call, Whenever, Differentiate

The trouble about man is twofold. He cannot learn truths which are too complicated; he forgets truths which are too simple.

- Rebecca West

Learn, Which, Twofold, Forgets

Mr. James Joyce is a great man who is entirely without taste.

- Rebecca West

Great Man, Mr, James, Entirely

The memory, experiencing and re-experiencing, has such power over one's mere personal life, that one has merely lived.

- Rebecca West

Memory, Personal, Over, Experiencing

It is sometimes very hard to tell the difference between history and the smell of skunk.

- Rebecca West

Sometimes, Tell, Very, Skunk

A strong hatred is the best lamp to bear in our hands as we go over the dark places of life, cutting away the dead things men tell us to revere.

- Rebecca West

Strong, Hands, Over, Revere

There is no logical reason why the camel of great art should pass through the needle of mob intelligence.

- Rebecca West

Reason, Through, Mob, Needle

A copy of the universe is not what is required of art; one of the damned things is ample.

- Rebecca West

Art, Universe, Things, Ample

Because hypocrisy stinks in the nostrils one is likely to rate it as a more powerful agent for destruction than it is.

- Rebecca West

Powerful, Likely, Agent, Hypocrisy

Writing has nothing to do with communication between person and person, only with communication between different parts of a person's mind.

- Rebecca West

Communication, Mind, Person, Parts

Any authentic work of art must start an argument between the artist and his audience.

- Rebecca West

Art, Audience, Argument, Authentic

Humanity is never more sphinxlike than when it is expressing itself.

- Rebecca West

Never, More, Itself, Expressing

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