Margaret Atwood’s Top 14 Best Quotes

Margaret Atwood's profound and thought-provoking quotes reflect her keen insight into human nature, society, and the complexities of relationships. Here are more quotes from her various works that continue to resonate with readers:

1. On Power and Control:
   
   

• "Ignoring isn’t the same as ignorance, you have to work at it." – From "The Handmaid's Tale"

• "When we think of the past it's the beautiful things we pick out. We want to believe it was all like that." – From "The Handmaid's Tale"

2. On Feminism and Gender Dynamics:
   
   
• “Another belief of mine: that everyone else my age is an adult, whereas I am merely in disguise.” – From "Cat's Eye"
• “You can only be jealous of someone who has something you think you ought to have yourself.” – From "The Handmaid's Tale"
3. On Loss, Regret, and Memory:
   
   

• “The past is so much safer, because whatever's in it has already happened. It can’t be changed; so, in a way, there's nothing to dread.” – From "The Blind Assassin"

• “Time could truly be made to stand still. Texture could be retained despite the pervading entropy.” – From "The Blind Assassin"

4. On Identity and Self-Reflection:
   
   

• “A divorce is like an amputation: You survive it, but there’s less of you.” – From "The Blind Assassin"

• “All changes, even the most longed for, have their melancholy; for what we leave behind us is a part of ourselves; we must die to one life before we can enter another.” – From "Cat's Eye"

5. On Creativity and Writing:
   
   

• “A word after a word after a word is power.” – From her essay "Spotty-Handed Villainesses"

• “Writing is not a matter of time, but a matter or of space. If you don’t keep space in your head for writing, you won’t write even if you have the time.” – From her collection of essays "Negotiating with the Dead"

6. On Human Nature:
   
   

• “The truth is always an insult or a joke, lies are generally tastier. We love them. The nature of lies is to please. Truth has no concern for anyone’s comfort.” – From "Cat's Eye"

• “Men are afraid that women will laugh at them. Women are afraid that men will kill them.” – From "Writing the Male Character" (a speech)

7. On Society and Reality:
   
   

• “The fabric of democracy is always fragile everywhere because it depends on the will of citizens to protect it, and when they become scared, when it becomes dangerous for them to defend it, it can go very quickly.” – From an interview with The Times

• “Reality simply consists of different points of view.” – From "Alias Grace"

These quotes epitomize Atwood's ability to articulate complex emotions, social dynamics, and existential contemplations in a relatable and often haunting manner. Through her eloquent expression, she continues to challenge and inspire readers to reflect on their own lives and the world around them.