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Quote by Iris Origo

“Behind each biography there should always be a rich treasury of unformulated knowledge, a tapestry that has not been unrolled.”

Quote by Iris Origo

Author

Iris Origo, born on August 15, 1902 and died on June 28, 1988, was an outstanding Italian biographer. Her works are known for their in-depth research and rich details, particularly for her ability to depict the lives and historical contexts of figures. more

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“while it is certainly the biographer's business to describe the foibles, passions and idiosyncrasies which make his subject a person, his work will be very meagre if these individual traits are not also seen as part of a universal drama - for each man's life is also the story of Everyman.”

Ifs Men Persons Stories Life Is Passion Individual Subjects Drama Universal Traits Biographers Idiosyncrasies Foibles Everyman

Author:Iris Origo

“[On writing biography:] If you wish to see a person you must not start by seeing through him.”

Ifs Writing Persons Wish Seeing Biographies

Book:A Need to Testify

Source: A Need to Testify

“I do not think that one is likely to write a good biography unless one feels some sympathy with its subject.”

Thinking Feels Writing Subjects Biographies

Author:Iris Origo

“[On writing biography:] ... every human life is at once so complex and so simple, so perplexing and so clear, so superficial and so profound, that any attempt to present it as a unified, consistent whole, to enclose it within a rigid frame, inevitably tempts one to cheat or to falsify.”

Writing Humans Whole Life Is Simple Clear Profound Complexes Human Life Consistent Cheat Superficial Biographies Unified

Author:Iris Origo

“whereas in childhood ... it was the parents' judgement that mattered to the child, later on the situation becomes reversed: it is then that the opinions of one's grown-up children become what matters, as well as their kindness.”

Wells Children Matter Parent Situation Opinion Kindness Childhood Judgement What Matters

Author:Iris Origo

“Just as, in travel, one may miss seeing the sunset because one cannot find the ticket-office or is afraid of missing the train, so in even the closest human relationships a vast amount of time and of affection is drained away in minor misunderstandings, missed opportunities, and failures in consideration or understanding.”

“I write because, exacting as it may be to do so, it is still more difficult to refrain, and because - however conscious of one's limitations one may be - there is always at the back of one's mind an irrational hope that this next book will be different: it will be the rounded achievement, the complete fulfilment. It never has been: yet I am still writing.”

Writing Mind May Has Beens Stills Book Different Next Difficult Achievement Conscious Limitation Irrational Refrain Fulfilment

Author:Iris Origo

“I believe, not theoretically, but from direct personal experience, that very few of the things that happen to us are purposeless or accidental (and this includes suffering and grief - even that of others), and that sometimes one catches a glimpse of the link between these happenings. I believe - even when I am myself blind and deaf, or even indifferent - in the existence of a mystery.”

Believe Sometimes Happens Suffering I Believe Grief Existence Mystery Happenings Direct Blind Links Indifferent Glimpse Deaf Personal Experiences

Author:Iris Origo

“To be a biographer is a somewhat peculiar endeavor. It seems to me it requires not only the tact, patience, and thoroughness of a scholar but the stamina of a horse.”

Seems Horse Endeavor Peculiar Scholar Stamina Tact Biographers Thoroughness

Book:Savage Beauty: The Life of Edna St. Vincent Millay

Source: Savage Beauty: The Life of Edna St. Vincent Millay

“a certain red cardinal sounded like a little bottle being filled up, up, up with some clear liquid.”

Littles Certain Clear Red Filled Bottles Liquid Cardinals Filled Up

Author:Elizabeth Enright