The Marriages Between Zones Three, Four, and Five Quotes

“What are all these guises, aspects, presentations? Only manifestations of what we all are at different times, according to how these needs are pulled out of us. I write in these bald words the deepest lessons of my life, the truest substance of what I have learned. I am not only a Chronicler of Zone Three, or only partially, for I also share in Al-Ith's condition of being ruler insofar as I can write of her, describe her. I am woman with her (though I am man) as I write of her femaleness - and Dabeeb's. I am Ben Ata when I summon him into my mind and try to make him real. I am...what I am at the moment I am that...”
― Doris Lessing, The Marriages Between Zones Three, Four, and Five

“We Chroniclers do well to be afraid when we approach those parts of our
histories (our natures) that deal with evil, the depraved, the
benighted. Describing, we become. We even - and I've see it and have
shuddered - summon. The most innocent of poets can write of ugliness
and forces he has done no more than speculate about - and bring them
into his life. I tell you, I've seen it, watched it...”
― Doris Lessing, The Marriages Between Zones Three, Four, and Five

“In hands and in minds lived skills and cleverness that had only to be fed and given room...patience.”
― Doris Lessing, The Marriages Between Zones Three, Four, and Five

“Having. Having. What is this word of yours, having. How can one have another person. No wonder you can't - ' but she had been going to say, 'No wonder you can't make love when you think in terms of having - ' but of course had to check it.”
― Doris Lessing, The Marriages Between Zones Three, Four, and Five

“It is not one of our words. I become its mother.”
― Doris Lessing, The Marriages Between Zones Three, Four, and Five

“In their Zone the riderless horse gave birth to songs of death and sorrow; in ours to songs about loving friendship.”
― Doris Lessing, The Marriages Between Zones Three, Four, and Five