Doris Lessing

Doris Lessing (1919–2013) was a British novelist and Nobel laureate known for works such as The Golden Notebook and The Grass Is Singing. Her writing addressed feminism, colonialism and psychological insight, reflected in quotes urging decisive action despite difficult conditions.

Quotes by Doris Lessing

Quotes: 2

Whatever you're meant to do, do it now. The conditions are always impossible. — Doris Lessing

Act Now: Doing Meaningful Work Amid Impossible Conditions

Finally, doing it now is not a license for careless action; it is a commitment to learn early and adjust quickly. Safe-to-fail experiments let teams probe uncertainty without courting catastrophe (Snowden and Boone, HBR, 2007). Ethical guardrails—clarifying who could be harmed, how feedback will be gathered, and when to stop—turn urgency into responsible momentum. Thus Lessing’s counsel matures: start before you feel ready, but build in reflection, measurement, and care. In that rhythm, impossibility becomes context, not conclusion—and the work you are meant to do can move from intention to impact. [...]

Created on: 9/27/2025

The joy of life consists in the exercise of one's energies, of one’s power, to be creative. — Doris Lessing

The Joy of Life Lies in Creativity and Energy - Doris Lessing

Doris Lessing offers a philosophical perspective, suggesting that life’s purpose is not passive enjoyment but active engagement and effort toward growth, change, and innovation. [...]

Created on: 1/22/2025