Audre Lorde Quotes

If I didn't define myself for myself, I would be crunched into other people's fantasies for me and eaten alive.
Audre Lorde

Alive, Define, Eaten

It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences.
Audre Lorde

Accept, Celebrate, Divide

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.
Audre Lorde

Important, Again, Risk

Quote

Our visions begin with our desires.
Audre Lorde

Begin, Desires, Visions

When we speak we are afraid our words will not be heard or welcomed. But when we are silent, we are still afraid. So it is better to speak.
Audre Lorde

Words, Afraid, Speak

I am deliberate and afraid of nothing.
Audre Lorde

Inspirational, Nothing, Afraid

I write for those women who do not speak, for those who do not have a voice because they were so terrified, because we are taught to respect fear more than ourselves. We've been taught that silence would save us, but it won't.
Audre Lorde

Women, Respect, Fear

The sharing of joy, whether physical, emotional, psychic, or intellectual, forms a bridge between the sharers which can be the basis for understanding much of what is not shared between them, and lessens the threat of their difference.
Audre Lorde

Emotional, Joy, Between

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.
Audre Lorde

Strength, Powerful, Important

The master's tools will never dismantle the master's house.
Audre Lorde

House, Master, Tools

Attend me, hold me in your muscular flowering arms, protect me from throwing any part of myself away.
Audre Lorde

Away, Hold, Protect

Each time you love, love as deeply as if it were forever.
Audre Lorde

Love, Time, Forever

When I use my strength in the service of my vision it makes no difference whether or not I am afraid.
Audre Lorde

Strength, Afraid, Service

There are no new ideas. There are only new ways of making them felt.
Audre Lorde

Making, Ideas, Felt

In our work and in our living, we must recognize that difference is a reason for celebration and growth, rather than a reason for destruction.
Audre Lorde

Work, Living, Reason

Black women are programmed to define ourselves within this male attention and to compete with each other for it rather than to recognize and move upon our common interests.
Audre Lorde

Women, Black, Rather

But the true feminist deals out of a lesbian consciousness whether or not she ever sleeps with women.
Audre Lorde

Women, True, Lesbian

We have to consciously study how to be tender with each other until it becomes a habit because what was native has been stolen from us, the love of Black women for each other.
Audre Lorde

Love, Women, Black

Only by learning to live in harmony with your contradictions can you keep it all afloat.
Audre Lorde

Learning, Live, Keep

Your silence will not protect you.
Audre Lorde

Silence, Protect

Life is very short and what we have to do must be done in the now.
Audre Lorde

Life, Done, Short

Art is not living. It is the use of living.
Audre Lorde

The learning process is something you can incite, literally incite, like a riot.
Audre Lorde

Learning, Process, Riot

Black writers, of whatever quality, who step outside the pale of what black writers are supposed to write about, or who black writers are supposed to be, are condemned to silences in black literary circles that are as total and as destructive as any imposed by racism.
Audre Lorde

Black, Racism, Whatever

Black women sharing close ties with each other, politically or emotionally, are not the enemies of Black men.
Audre Lorde

Women, Men, Black

Share with your Friends

Everyone likes a good quote - don't forget to share.

Biography

Nationality: American

Type: Poet

Born: February 18, 1934

Died: 1992

Links

Find on Amazon: Audre Lorde

Cite this Page: Citation

Popular Topics

Friendship Quotes

Motivational Quotes

Inspirational Quotes

Related Authors

Maya Angelou
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Robert Frost
Edgar Allan Poe
T. S. Eliot
e. e. cummings
Walt Whitman
Emily Dickinson
More

Get Social with BrainyQuote

BrainyQuote Desktop

BrainyQuote Mobile

Site

Quote of the Day

Social

BQ on Pinterest

Syndication

Funny Quote Feed

Love Quote Feed

Nature Quote Feed

About Us