Audre Lorde

Explore inspiring quotes by Audre Lorde, a remarkable figure whose words continue to inspire and motivate people around the world.

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women

7 quotes

strength

3 quotes

learning

2 quotes

work

1 quotes

architecture

1 quotes

art

1 quotes

change

1 quotes

failure

1 quotes

Featured Quotes by Audre Lorde

Some of the most memorable quotes from this author

"I can't really define it in sexual terms alone although our sexuality is so energizing why not enjoy it too?"

— Audre Lordealone

"Poetry is not only dream and vision it is the skeleton architecture of our lives. It lays the foundations for a future of change, a bridge across our fears of what has never been before."

— Audre Lordearchitecture

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

— Audre Lordeart

"Poetry is not only dream and vision it is the skeleton architecture of our lives. It lays the foundations for a future of change, a bridge across our fears of what has never been before."

— Audre Lordechange

"The failure of academic feminists to recognize difference as a crucial strength is a failure to reach beyond the first patriarchal lesson. In our world, divide and conquer must become define and empower."

— Audre Lordefailure

"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 Lordefear

All Quotes by Audre Lorde

Browse all quotes from this author

"I can't really define it in sexual terms alone although our sexuality is so energizing why not enjoy it too?"

-Audre Lorde

aloneView Quote

"Poetry is not only dream and vision it is the skeleton architecture of our lives. It lays the foundations for a future of change, a bridge across our fears of what has never been before."

-Audre Lorde

architectureView Quote

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

-Audre Lorde

artView Quote

"Poetry is not only dream and vision it is the skeleton architecture of our lives. It lays the foundations for a future of change, a bridge across our fears of what has never been before."

-Audre Lorde

changeView Quote

"The failure of academic feminists to recognize difference as a crucial strength is a failure to reach beyond the first patriarchal lesson. In our world, divide and conquer must become define and empower."

-Audre Lorde

failureView Quote

"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

fearView Quote

"Poetry is not only dream and vision it is the skeleton architecture of our lives. It lays the foundations for a future of change, a bridge across our fears of what has never been before."

-Audre Lorde

futureView Quote

"It's a struggle but that's why we exist, so that another generation of Lesbians of color will not have to invent themselves, or their history, all over again."

-Audre Lorde

historyView Quote

"The quality of light by which we scrutinize our lives has direct bearing upon the product which we live, and upon the changes which we hope to bring about through those lives."

-Audre Lorde

hopeView Quote

"I am deliberate and afraid of nothing."

-Audre Lorde

inspirationalView Quote

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

-Audre Lorde

learningView Quote

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

-Audre Lorde

learningView Quote

"I would like to do another piece of fiction dealing with a number of issues: Lesbian parenting, the 1960's, and interracial relationships in the Lesbian and Gay community."

-Audre Lorde

parentingView Quote

"Poetry is not only dream and vision it is the skeleton architecture of our lives. It lays the foundations for a future of change, a bridge across our fears of what has never been before."

-Audre Lorde

poetryView Quote

"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

respectView Quote

"But, on the other hand, I get bored with racism too and recognize that there are still many things to be said about a Black person and a White person loving each other in a racist society."

-Audre Lorde

societyView Quote

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

-Audre Lorde

strengthView Quote

"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

strengthView Quote

"The failure of academic feminists to recognize difference as a crucial strength is a failure to reach beyond the first patriarchal lesson. In our world, divide and conquer must become define and empower."

-Audre Lorde

strengthView Quote

"There's always someone asking you to underline one piece of yourself - whether it's Black, woman, mother, dyke, teacher, etc. - because that's the piece that they need to key in to. They want to dismiss everything else."

-Audre Lorde

teacherView Quote

"I remember how being young and black and gay and lonely felt. A lot of it was fine, feeling I had the truth and the light and the key, but a lot of it was purely hell."

-Audre Lorde

truthView Quote

"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

womenView Quote

"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

womenView Quote

"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

womenView Quote

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

-Audre Lorde

womenView Quote

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

-Audre Lorde

womenView Quote

"In discussions around the hiring and firing of Black faculty at universities, the charge is frequently heard that Black women are more easily hired than are Black men."

-Audre Lorde

womenView Quote

"When we create out of our experiences, as feminists of color, women of color, we have to develop those structures that will present and circulate our culture."

-Audre Lorde

womenView Quote

"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

workView Quote

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Audre Lorde

Top Categories by Audre Lorde

women

strength

learning

work

architecture

art

change

failure

Featured Quotes by Audre Lorde

All Quotes by Audre Lorde

"I can't really define it in sexual terms alone although our sexuality is so energizing why not enjoy it too?"

"Poetry is not only dream and vision it is the skeleton architecture of our lives. It lays the foundations for a future of change, a bridge across our fears of what has never been before."

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

"Poetry is not only dream and vision it is the skeleton architecture of our lives. It lays the foundations for a future of change, a bridge across our fears of what has never been before."

"The failure of academic feminists to recognize difference as a crucial strength is a failure to reach beyond the first patriarchal lesson. In our world, divide and conquer must become define and empower."

"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."

"Poetry is not only dream and vision it is the skeleton architecture of our lives. It lays the foundations for a future of change, a bridge across our fears of what has never been before."

"It's a struggle but that's why we exist, so that another generation of Lesbians of color will not have to invent themselves, or their history, all over again."

"The quality of light by which we scrutinize our lives has direct bearing upon the product which we live, and upon the changes which we hope to bring about through those lives."

"I am deliberate and afraid of nothing."

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

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

"I would like to do another piece of fiction dealing with a number of issues: Lesbian parenting, the 1960's, and interracial relationships in the Lesbian and Gay community."

"Poetry is not only dream and vision it is the skeleton architecture of our lives. It lays the foundations for a future of change, a bridge across our fears of what has never been before."

"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."

"But, on the other hand, I get bored with racism too and recognize that there are still many things to be said about a Black person and a White person loving each other in a racist society."

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

"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."

"The failure of academic feminists to recognize difference as a crucial strength is a failure to reach beyond the first patriarchal lesson. In our world, divide and conquer must become define and empower."

"There's always someone asking you to underline one piece of yourself - whether it's Black, woman, mother, dyke, teacher, etc. - because that's the piece that they need to key in to. They want to dismiss everything else."

"I remember how being young and black and gay and lonely felt. A lot of it was fine, feeling I had the truth and the light and the key, but a lot of it was purely hell."

"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."

"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."

"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."

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

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

"In discussions around the hiring and firing of Black faculty at universities, the charge is frequently heard that Black women are more easily hired than are Black men."

"When we create out of our experiences, as feminists of color, women of color, we have to develop those structures that will present and circulate our culture."

"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."

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