A lot of artists say, I'm not political. People are afraid of this word.
Holly Near

I don't believe in nirvana. If nirvana was handed to us on a silver platter, this would be the first day of our struggle to keep it.
Holly Near

I like this life. I like it when it's hard, and I like it better when it's not, but I know you don't get the sweet part without the bitter.
Holly Near

I'm not allowing my perspective to be dictated by the dominant culture.
Holly Near

If I didn't think and feel the way I think and feel, I couldn't sing the way I sing. And I like singing the way I sing.
Holly Near

If you have the guts to keep making mistakes, your wisdom and intelligence leap forward with huge momentum.
Holly Near

It is essential that men start being interested in and excited by how women think.
Holly Near

It's been important to me to be a good activist, a good thinker, a good musician, a good singer, and a good entertainer. You can't do it all, but I have walked those delicate lines as best I know how.
Holly Near

Language is like songs, like food, like dance-it is the expression of what we think.
Holly Near

Leaping away from my mistakes has propelled me forward. It has great force behind it. It makes for great storytelling.
Holly Near


Music can be used against us as much as it can be used for us. Muzak can put a whole nation to sleep, whereas a lullaby is intended to put a child to sleep in a sweet way.
Holly Near

My creativity and my political work are linked. I don't do this work out of guilt or out of responsibility.
Holly Near

My parents encouraged thought. You'll get through life better if you learn how to think.
Holly Near

My parents had been involved in the labor movement; if we'd grown up in the city, we would have been red-diaper babies.
Holly Near

Once women are not excluded, I don't think any of us will give a damn what pronouns are used. That wasn't the point.
Holly Near

Part of being an artist is being willing to be shocked, being willing to be surprised, being willing to be hurt.
Holly Near

Part of keeping space open is not to try to choose a form - to spend more time thinking about content, and let form take care of itself.
Holly Near

People love to hear the mistakes you've made.
Holly Near

The war on drugs is a war against the communities.
Holly Near

The women's movement completely changed attitudes all over the world in ways we'll never be able to count.
Holly Near