Audre Lorde, (1934 - 1992) Quotes

I have come to believe over and over again that what is most important to me must be spoken, made verbal and shared, even at the risk of having it bruised or misunderstood.

Our visions begin with our desires.

Hatred is a death wish for the hated, not a life wish for anything else.

While we wait in silence for that final luxury of fearlessness, the weight of that silence will choke us.

I became more courageous by doing the very things I needed to be courageous for -- first, a little, and badly. Then, bit by bit, more and better. Being avidly -- sometimes annoyingly -- curious and persistent about discovering how others were doing what I wanted to do.

I realize that if I wait until I am no longer afraid to act, write, speak, be, I'll be sending messages on a Ouija board, cryptic complaints from the other side.

Even the smallest victory is never to be taken for granted. Each victory must be applauded, because it is so easy not to battle at all, to just accept and call that acceptance inevitable.

Difference must be not merely tolerated, but seen as a fund of necessary polarities between which our creativity can spark like a dialectic.

When I dare to be powerful, to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid.

Silence has never brought us anything of worth.