You simply don't get to be wise, mature, etc., unless you've been a raving cannibal for thirty years or so

You simply don't get to be wise, mature, etc., unless you've been a raving cannibal for thirty years or so

Doris Lessing, a renowned British writer and Nobel Prize laureate, is known for her thought-provoking and often controversial views on human nature, society, and the complexities of life. One of her most famous quotes, “You simply don't get to be wise, mature, etc., unless you've been a raving cannibal for thirty years or so,” encapsulates her belief that true wisdom and maturity can only be attained through experiencing the darkest aspects of human behavior.

Lessing's statement may seem extreme at first glance, but upon closer examination, it becomes clear that she is not advocating for literal cannibalism. Instead, she is using the metaphor of cannibalism to illustrate the idea that true wisdom and maturity come from confronting and overcoming the most primal and savage aspects of human nature.