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Kathleen Norris

132quotes

Kathleen Norris


Full Name and Common Aliases


Kathleen Norris was an American novelist and essayist.

Birth and Death Dates


Born on January 2, 1889, in Chicago, Illinois; passed away on February 2, 1966, at the age of 77.

Nationality and Profession(s)


American novelist and essayist.

Early Life and Background


Kathleen Norris grew up in a family that valued literature and education. Her mother was an avid reader and encouraged her daughter's love for books from a young age. Norris attended high school in Chicago and later went on to study at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where she developed her writing skills.

Major Accomplishments


Norris is best known for her novels that captured the lives of ordinary people during times of hardship and change. Her most notable works include The Mother (1925), The Bedouin (1937), and A Woman of the North Country (1943). These novels explored themes of love, family, and social justice, cementing Norris's reputation as a writer who could accurately portray the human experience.

Notable Works or Actions


Norris was also an accomplished essayist, writing for publications such as _The Nation_ and _The New Republic_. Her essays often dealt with topics like literature, politics, and women's rights. As an advocate for social justice, Norris participated in various causes throughout her life, including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom.

Impact and Legacy


Kathleen Norris's writing had a significant impact on American literature during the early 20th century. Her novels humanized people who were often overlooked or marginalized in society, drawing attention to their struggles and triumphs. Through her work, Norris helped pave the way for future generations of writers, many of whom have followed in her footsteps by exploring themes of social justice and human experience.

Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered


Norris's quotes on topics such as literature, politics, and women's rights continue to be widely referenced today. She is remembered not only for her accomplishments but also for her willingness to speak out against injustice and challenge societal norms. Her writing remains a testament to the power of storytelling in shaping our understanding of the world around us.

Throughout her life and work, Kathleen Norris demonstrated a commitment to social justice, literature, and the human experience. Her legacy continues to inspire writers, activists, and readers alike to explore the complexities of the world we live in.

Quotes by Kathleen Norris

Cities remind us that the desire to escape from the problems of other people by fleeing to a suburb, small town, or a monastery, for that matter, is an unholy thing, and ultimately self-defeating. We can no more escape from other people than we can escape from ourselves.
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Cities remind us that the desire to escape from the problems of other people by fleeing to a suburb, small town, or a monastery, for that matter, is an unholy thing, and ultimately self-defeating. We can no more escape from other people than we can escape from ourselves.
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From him I have learned that prayer is not asking for what you think you want but asking to be changed in ways you can’t imagine. To be more grateful, more able to see the good in what you have been given instead of always grieving for what might have been.
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From him I have learned that prayer is not asking for what you think you want but asking to be changed in ways you can’t imagine. To be more grateful, more able to see the good in what you have been given instead of always grieving for what might have been.
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The tragedy of sin is that it diverts gifts. The person who has a genuine capacity for loving becomes promiscuous, maybe sexually, or maybe by becoming frivolous and fickle, afraid to make a commitment to anyone or anything. The person with a gift for passionate intensity squanders it in angry tirades and, given power, becomes a demagogue.
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The tragedy of sin is that it diverts gifts. The person who has a genuine capacity for loving becomes promiscuous, maybe sexually, or maybe by becoming frivolous and fickle, afraid to make a commitment to anyone or anything. The person with a gift for passionate intensity squanders it in angry tirades and, given power, becomes a demagogue.
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Laundry, liturgy and women’s work all serve to ground us in the world, and they need not grind us down. Our daily tasks, whether we perceive them as drudgery or essential, life-supporting work, do not define who we are as women or as human beings.
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Laundry, liturgy and women’s work all serve to ground us in the world, and they need not grind us down. Our daily tasks, whether we perceive them as drudgery or essential, life-supporting work, do not define who we are as women or as human beings.
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The fact that one people’s frontier is usually another’s homeland has been mostly overlooked.
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The fact that one people’s frontier is usually another’s homeland has been mostly overlooked.
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I was taught that I had to ‘master’ subjects. But who can ‘master’ beauty, or peace, or joy?
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I was taught that I had to ‘master’ subjects. But who can ‘master’ beauty, or peace, or joy?
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If grace is so wonderful, why do we have such difficulty recognizing and accepting it? Maybe it’s because grace is not gentle or made-to-order. It often comes disguised as loss, or failure, or unwelcome change.
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If grace is so wonderful, why do we have such difficulty recognizing and accepting it? Maybe it’s because grace is not gentle or made-to-order. It often comes disguised as loss, or failure, or unwelcome change.
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I’ve come to see conspiracy theories as the refuge of those who have lost their natural curiosity and ability to cope with change.
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I’ve come to see conspiracy theories as the refuge of those who have lost their natural curiosity and ability to cope with change.
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I wonder if children don’t begin to reject both poetry and religion for similar reasons, because the way both are taught takes the life out of them.
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I wonder if children don’t begin to reject both poetry and religion for similar reasons, because the way both are taught takes the life out of them.
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In middle age we are apt to reach the horrifying conclusion that all sorrow, all pain, all passionate regret and loss and bitter disillusionment are self-made.
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In middle age we are apt to reach the horrifying conclusion that all sorrow, all pain, all passionate regret and loss and bitter disillusionment are self-made.
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