Biography Quote by Hermione Lee
““A self that goes on changing is a self that goes on living': so too with the biography of that self. And just as lives don't stay still, so life-writing can't be fixed and finalised. Our ideas are shifting about what can be said, our knowledge of human character is changing. The biographer has to pioneer, going 'ahead of the rest of us, like the miner's canary, testing the atmosphere, detecting falsity, unreality, and the presence of obsolete conventions'. So, 'There are some stories which have to be retold by each generation'. She is talking about the story of Shelley, but she could be talking about her own life-story. (Virginia Woolf, p. 11)””
About This Quote
Source Book: Virginia Woolf Biography, 2020
Continuous self‑change is essential; life and identity are fluid, requiring ongoing reinterpretation and renewal.
In simple terms: Keep evolving to stay alive
Key Takeaway
Embrace change and rewrite your story
Themes
identity
change
creativity
Mood
reflective
literary
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- writing
- personal growth
- cultural analysis
Key Concepts
self‑construction
narrative theory
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance continuity with transformation?
- What stories in your life need retelling?
A Different Perspective
Constant change can cause instability.
