Rose Wilder Lane
Rose Wilder Lane
======================
Full Name and Common Aliases
Rose Wilder Lane was the pen name of Rose Wilder Lowell, an American journalist, novelist, and social commentator. Her real name was later changed to reflect her married surname.
Birth and Death Dates
Born on December 5, 1886, in De Smet, South Dakota, Rose Wilder Lane passed away on October 30, 1968, at the age of 81.
Nationality and Profession(s)
Lane's nationality was American. She worked as a journalist, novelist, and social commentator throughout her career.
Early Life and Background
Rose Wilder Lane grew up in De Smet, South Dakota, the youngest child of Laura Ingalls and Charles Ingalls. Her family's experiences living on the American frontier would later influence many of her writing endeavors. Lane spent much of her childhood moving from place to place with her family before eventually settling down.
Major Accomplishments
Lane's accomplishments as a writer are numerous. She is best known for her work in promoting libertarian thought and her criticism of socialism. Her novel, _Free Land_, was published in 1915 and chronicled the story of an American woman traveling to Europe to study European social systems. This book would go on to become one of Lane's most famous works.
Lane also wrote several non-fiction pieces, including a series for _The Saturday Evening Post_ titled "These United States," which explored various regional cultures in America. Her writing was known for its accessible and engaging style, making it appealing to a wide range of readers.
Notable Works or Actions
Some notable works by Lane include:
Free Land (1915) - A novel that explores the tensions between individualism and collectivism through the eyes of an American woman traveling in Europe.
These United States series (1930s-1940s) - A collection of non-fiction pieces for _The Saturday Evening Post_ that examine various regional cultures in America.
Lane was also a vocal critic of socialism, with her writing reflecting her strong libertarian views. Her work in this area helped shape American thought on the topic and continues to influence contemporary discussions today.
Impact and Legacy
Rose Wilder Lane's impact on American literature and social commentary cannot be overstated. Through her writing, she brought attention to various regional cultures and challenged readers' perceptions of individualism versus collectivism. Her work in promoting libertarian thought helped shape American policy and continues to inspire debate today.
Lane's influence extends beyond the realm of literature as well. Her experiences living on the frontier and traveling abroad shaped her perspective on social systems, making her a unique voice among writers at the time.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Rose Wilder Lane is widely quoted or remembered for several reasons:
Unwavering commitment to libertarian thought: Lane's writing reflected her strong convictions about individualism and personal freedom. Her work continues to inspire libertarians today.
Accessible and engaging style: Lane's writing made complex social issues accessible to a wide range of readers, making her one of the most influential writers of her time.
* Critique of socialism: Lane's criticism of socialism helped shape American thought on the topic and continues to influence contemporary discussions.
In summary, Rose Wilder Lane was an accomplished journalist, novelist, and social commentator whose work had a lasting impact on American literature and social commentary. Her unwavering commitment to libertarian thought, accessible writing style, and critique of socialism continue to inspire readers today.
Quotes by Rose Wilder Lane

So long as any large group of persons, anywhere on this earth, believe the ancient superstition that some Authority is responsible for their welfare, they will set up some image of that Authority and try to obey it. And the result will be poverty and war.

Yet twenty-two hundred years ago, there were scientists. Before Rome was an outlaw’s camp in the far west, Aristotle was saying, “If a man grasps truths that can not be other than they are, in the way in which he grasps the definitions through which demonstrations take place, he will not have opinion, but knowledge.

Being absolute, and maintained by police force, a Government monopoly need not please its customers.

A “planned economy” destroys Government because when men use force in an attempt to control productive energies, they have no means of knowing real costs, and these costs automatically increase at an increasing rate until the people can no longer pay them.

The fact is that nothing but human energy working productively can produce any of the necessities of human life, any human living conditions.

Indeed, nothing but smuggling kept the poor from starving to death under that Government monopoly, benevolently planned for their good.

I’m not “filled with my art”. I ain’t got no art. I’ve got only a kind of craftsman’s skill, and make stories as I make biscuits or embroider underwear or wrap up packages.

I so much like real things – the realities that come naturally from the depths of us like – what shall I say? – the way trees grow, from some inner essential principle of them, just expressing itself.

Living is fighting for life, and when anyone does not know this fact, someone else is doing his fighting for him.
