Iris Murdoch: Quotes about life

Iris Murdoch was British writer and philosopher. Explore interesting quotes on life.
Iris Murdoch: 122 quotes21 likes

“The sin of pride may be a small or a great thing in someone's life, and hurt vanity a passing pinprick or a self-destroying or even murderous obsession.”

Iris Murdoch book The Philosopher's Pupil

The Philosopher's Pupil (1983) p. 76.
Context: The sin of pride may be a small or a great thing in someone's life, and hurt vanity a passing pinprick or a self-destroying or even murderous obsession. Possibly, more people kill themselves and others out of hurt vanity than out of envy, jealousy, malice or desire for revenge.

“We live in a fantasy world, a world of illusion. The great task in life is to find reality" says Iris Murdoch.
But given the state of the world, is it wise?”

Iris Murdoch

“The absolute yearning of one human body for another particular body and its indifference to substitutes is one of life's major mysteries.”

Iris Murdoch

“One of the secrets of a happy life is continuous small treats, and if some of these can be inexpensive and quickly procured so much the better.”

Iris Murdoch book The Sea, the Sea

Source: The Sea, the Sea

“The chief requirement of the good life… is to live without any image of oneself.”

Iris Murdoch book The Bell

The Bell (1958), ch. 9; 2001, p. 119.

“Whit Meynell was a sociologist; he had got into an intellectual muddle early on in life and never managed to get out.”

Iris Murdoch book The Philosopher's Pupil

The Philosopher's Pupil (1983) p. 165.

“He felt neither guilt nor distress at the pleasure with which he was now filled by the proximity of this young creature, and when he discovered in himself even physical symptoms of his inclination he did not take fright, but continued cheerfully and serenely to see Nick whenever the ordinary run of his duties suggested it, congratulating himself upon the newly achieved solidity and rational calm of his spiritual life.”

Iris Murdoch book The Bell

The Bell (1958) p. 91