Inspiration from History
I didn't invent The Handmaid's Tale. I compiled it from history, from what actually happened.
Margaret Atwood
Canadian writer and poet, author of 'The Handmaid's Tale' and passionate advocate for human rights.
All moments: Margaret Atwood
- Writer as Observer — Margaret Atwood
A writer is a nearsighted observer, examining details that others overlook.
- Dystopia as Warning — Margaret Atwood
I don't invent new horrors. I take existing ones from history and rearrange them.
- Action Against Despair — Margaret Atwood
I'm neither an optimist nor a pessimist. I'm an activist. I believe we can change the future through action.
- Authoritarianism as Danger — Margaret Atwood
Authoritarianism is not a fantasy. It's a real threat that grows before our eyes.
- Fiction and Reality — Margaret Atwood
The best thing about fiction is that it's truth in disguise. Reality is often stranger than any novel.
- Woman and Power — Margaret Atwood
Power over women is rooted in fear. Women who know their worth are dangerous to the system.
Related moments
- Birth of a Legend — Paul McCartney
The Beatles were about growth. We changed every single day.
- Documenting History — Questlove
As a documentarian, I feel a responsibility to preserve the history of Black music and culture
- All Music Is Folk Music — Louis Armstrong
All music is folk music. I ain't never heard a horse sing a song.
- Alien Artist — David Bowie
I never tried to fit in. I prefer to be myself, even if it's alien.
- Compromise and Conscience — Bob Dylan
I'll never sell my soul for money or fame. It's my only true asset.
- The Soul of Music — Questlove
Soul is what makes music real. It's what people feel