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Quote by Margaret Drabble

“We cannot unweave, and remake. For chance and choice happen. They coincide, they coalesce, they mix, and then their joint outcome grows as hard and as fixed as cement. Like a fossil in stone, it hardens, in its own indissoluble, immutable shape.”

Book:The Sea Lady

Work

The Sea Lady

Browse quotes and source details for this work. more

Author

Margaret Drabble

Margaret Drabble is a renowned British novelist known for her insightful exploration of social changes and her focus on the lives of women. Her works often delve into the relationship between individuals and society, as well as the impact of historical context on characters' fates. more

“She wanted to talk about it, to tell the peasants in the fields and the nobles in their palashos—the cows in the pastures, the very birds in the air— that everything was nothing. It was a delightful thought because it meant (to Tess) that one was free to choose, or decline to choose, without shame or coercion. For someone who was nothing, anything was possible.”

Philosophy Choices Freedom Psychology Possibility Nothingness Choose Nothing Everything

Book:Tess of the Road

Source: Tess of the Road

“Her father was stern. Her father disapproved. Her father had very strong reservations...Half Belgian, half Persian, staunch British conservative, he'd seen the Himalayas and Harrogate and had chosen accountancy.”

Choices Perspective Myopia

Book:Autumn

Source: Autumn

“If I look way back to the beginning of ‘whatever this is’ that I’m stuck in the middle of, I suddenly realize that ‘whatever this is’ got started by ‘whatever it is’ that I was doing. And I can be utterly confident in the fact that ‘whatever it is’ that I was doing, it wasn’t thinking.”

Wisdom Choices Wise Realization Thoughtful Consequences Prudent Repercussions Discerning Fool Foolish

Author:Craig D. Lounsbrough

“He’s whispering again. I’m finding it hard to hear, and we’re standing close together. What do you want to ask? ‘If Hen/ was the same as she is now, in every way, but was a bit less physically attractive in one significant way, do you think you would have married her?’ I’m caught off guard by the question, but I don’t want to show that I am, so I don’t hesitate with my answer. Of course, I say. I love Hen. Hen’s my wife. She’ll be with me forever. I’ve always loved he. I’ll always love her. ‘ I know that. I know. I don’t doubt you love her very much. That’s not really what I’m asking, though. Are you sure you would have married her? Committed to her forever? Think about it. Does her appearance not mean anything to you? Is that what you’re saying? That what she looks like is irrelevant?’ It’s such a blonde question. It seems out of line with everything else we talked about. I feel a trickle in sweat slide down my spine. I’m saying, to me, no matter what, she would still be Hen. ‘Would she, though? Would she still be the Hen you fell in love with? What about this: What if she looked exactly as she does right now, but she was a little less intelligent? Would she still be Hen?’ That’s just stupid. It’s a stupid question. Hen is Hen.”