Unlike women in other countries, our breaking silence is unlikely to have us jailed, "disappeared," or run off the road at night. Our speaking out will irritate some people, get us called bitchy or hypersensitive, and disrupt some dinner parties. And then our speaking out will permit other women to speak, until laws are changed and lives are saved and the world is altered forever.

About Audre Lorde

Audre Lorde ( AW-dree LORD; born Audrey Geraldine Lorde; February 18, 1934 – November 17, 1992) was an American writer, professor, philosopher, intersectional feminist, poet, and civil rights activist. She was a self-described "Black, lesbian, feminist, socialist, mother, warrior, poet" who dedicated her life and talents to confronting all forms...

More quotations from Audre Lorde

When I speak of change, I do not mean a simple switch of positions or a temporary lessening of tensions, nor the ability to smile or feel good. I am speaking of a basic and radical alteration in all those assumptions underlining our lives.

—Audre Lorde

Revolution is not a onetime event.

—Audre Lorde

revolution

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

—Audre Lorde

love

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.

—Audre Lorde

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

—Audre Lorde

More quotations tagged with “anger”

When you find yourself about to say something that crosses a line, something that could cause irreparable harm, sometimes the best you can do is just not say that thing.

—Tammara Webber in Where You Are

silence speech anger

The phrase "action speaks louder than words," is most easily proven by a swift kick to the genitals.

—Devin J. Monroe

words anger actions kick

Anger is a tool for change when it challenges us to become more of an expert on the self and less of an expert on others.

—Harriet Lerner

anger challenge

At the core of all anger is a need that is not being fulfilled.

—Marshall B. Rosenberg

anger need fulfillment

I am no longer afraid of anger. I find it to be a creative, transforming force; anger is a stage I must go though if I am ever to get to what lies beyond.

—Mary Kaye Medinger

change transformation anger

History

16 Jan 2016 Added
26 Oct 2026 Wording changed

Previous wording

Unlike women in other countries, our breaking silence is unlikely to have us jailed, "disappeared," or run off the road at night. Our speaking out will irritate some people, get us called bitchy or hypersensitive, and disrupt some dinner parties. And then our speaking out will permit other women to speak, until laws are changed and lives are saved and the world is altered forever.