Jessamyn West Quotes

A collection of quotes by Jessamyn West.

Jessamyn West is an American writer and librarian, born on July 18, 1968, in Massachusetts. She is best known for her work as a librarian, as well as her contributions to the field of digital librarianship. West has been a passionate advocate for intellectual freedom, open access, and bridging the digital divide.

Throughout her career, West has worked in various libraries, including public, academic, and special libraries. She has often been at the forefront of embracing emerging technologies and exploring their impact on library services and information access.

In addition to her work as a librarian, West is also a prolific writer. She has published several books and writes extensively on topics related to libraries, technology, and digital literacy. Some of her notable works include "Without a Net: Librarians Bridging the Digital Divide," which explores the role of libraries in providing equal access to technology, and "The Librarian's Guide to Homelessness: An Empathy-Driven Approach to Solving Problems, Preventing Conflicts, and Serving Everyone."

As a respected figure in the library community, Jessamyn West has been a sought-after speaker and has presented at numerous conferences and events. She continues to contribute to the field through her writing, advocacy, and consulting work, focusing on issues such as information equity, digital rights, and the social responsibility of libraries in the digital age.

Fiction reveals truths that reality obscures.

Fiction reveals truths that reality obscures.

It's very easy to forgive others their mistakes, it takes mo

It's very easy to forgive others their mistakes, it takes more gut and gumption to forgive them for having witnessed your own.

A taste for irony has kept more hearts from breaking than a

A taste for irony has kept more hearts from breaking than a sense of humor for it takes irony to appreciate the joke which is on oneself.

In their sympathies, children feel nearer animals than adult

In their sympathies, children feel nearer animals than adults. They frolic with animals, caress them, share with them feelings neither has words for. Have they ever stroked any adult with the love they bestow on a cat? Hugged any grownup with the ecstasy they feel when clasping a puppy?

Love

There are two barriers that often prevent communication betw

There are two barriers that often prevent communication between the young and their elders. The first is middle-aged forgetfulness of the fact that they themselves are no longer young. The second is youthful ignorance of the fact that the middle aged are still alive.

Communication

Teaching is the royal road to learning.

Teaching is the royal road to learning.

Learning

To meet at all, one must open ones eyes to another; and ther

To meet at all, one must open ones eyes to another; and there is no true conversation no matter how many words are spoken, unless the eye, unveiled and listening, opens itself to the other.

Listening

I have done more harm by the falseness of trying to please t

I have done more harm by the falseness of trying to please than by the honesty of trying to hurt.

Truth

If you want a baby, have a new one. Don't baby the old one.

If you want a baby, have a new one. Don't baby the old one.

Parenting

The past is really almost as much a work of the imagination

The past is really almost as much a work of the imagination as the future.

Future

In my time and neighborhood (and in my soul) there was only

In my time and neighborhood (and in my soul) there was only one standard by which a woman measured success: did some man want her?

Success

Writing is a solitary occupation. Family, friends, and socie

Writing is a solitary occupation. Family, friends, and society are the natural enemies of the writer. He must be alone, uninterrupted, and slightly savage if he is to sustain and complete an undertaking.

Alone

Faithfulness to the past can be a kind of death above ground

Faithfulness to the past can be a kind of death above ground. Writing of the past is a resurrection the past then lives in your words and you are free.

Death

It is very east to forgive others their mistakes it takes mo

It is very east to forgive others their mistakes it takes more grit and gumption to forgive them for having witnessed your own.

Forgiveness

A taste for irony has kept more hearts from breaking than a

A taste for irony has kept more hearts from breaking than a sense of humor, for it takes irony to appreciate the joke which is on oneself.

Humor