Love is the difficult realization that something other than oneself is real. - Iris Murdoch
There is no beyond, there is only here, the infinitely small, infinitely great and utterly demanding present. - Iris Murdoch
The most essential and fundamental aspect of culture is the study of literature, since this is an education in how to picture and understand human situations. - Iris Murdoch
Falling out of love is very enlightening. For a short while you see the world with new eyes. - Iris Murdoch
Only the very greatest art invigorates without consoling. - Iris Murdoch
I think being a woman is like being Irish... Everyone says you're important and nice, but you take second place all the time. - Iris Murdoch
Love is the extremely difficult realization that something other than oneself is real. - Iris Murdoch
One of the secrets of a happy life is continuous small treats. - Iris Murdoch
We can only learn to love by loving. - Iris Murdoch
there was a feeling as if I carried a small leaden coffin in the place of my heart - Iris Murdoch
Bereavement is a darkness impenetrable to the imagination of the unbereaved - Iris Murdoch
Every persisting marriage is based on fear', said Peregrine. 'Fear is fundamental, you dig down in human nature and what's at the bottom? Mean spiteful cruel self-regarding fear, whether it makes you to put the foot in it or whether it makes you to cower... - Iris Murdoch
People from a planet without flowers would think we must be mad with joy the whole time to have such things about us. - Iris Murdoch
He felt, in a way so familiar as to be almost dreary, the chosen victim of the gods, the self-admitted traitor, the one destined for judgment. - Iris Murdoch
The cry of equality pulls everyone down. - Iris Murdoch
Writing is like getting married. One should never commit oneself until one is amazed at one's luck. - Iris Murdoch