Storytelling is a very old human skill that gives us an evolutionary advantage. If you can tell young people how you kill an emu, acted out in song or dance, or that Uncle George was eaten by a croc over there, don't go there to swim, then those young people don't have to find out by trial and error.
Margaret AtwoodWithout the protection of surliness and levity, all children would be crushed by the pastโthe past of others, loaded onto their shoulders. Selfishness is their saving grace.
Margaret AtwoodWhen we're young, we like happy endings. When we're a little older, we think happy endings are unrealistic and so we prefer bad but credible endings. When we're older still, we realize happy endings aren't so bad after all.
Margaret AtwoodYour friend is intellectually honourable," Jimmy's mother would say. "He doesn't lie to himself.
Margaret AtwoodCommunications technology changes possibilities for communication, but that doesn't mean it changes the inherited structure of the brain. So you may think that you're addicted to online reading, but as soon as it isn't available anymore, your brain will pretty immediately adjust to other forms of reading. It's a habit like all habits.
Margaret Atwood