We go into rural communities and all we do, like has been done in this room, is create the space. When these girls sit, you unlock intelligence, you unlock passion, you unlock commitment, you unlock focus, you unlock great leaders.
Leymah GboweeRead
I always tell people, anger is like liquid. It's fluid, it's like water. You put it in a container and it takes the shape of that container. So many people you see in prison, unleashing war on their people, they are angry, and they take their anger and put it into a violent container.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Anger can be shaped by its surroundings, influencing how it manifests in behavior.
In this quote, Leymah Gbowee emphasizes the idea that anger is a malleable emotion that adapts to the circumstances and environments in which it exists. Just as water takes on the shape of its container, anger can be expressed in various ways depending on how individuals channel it, leading to both constructive and destructive outcomes. Gbowee highlights the dangers of misdirected anger, particularly in violent contexts, and underscores the importance of finding healthy outlets for this powerful emotion.
Themes
AngerEmotionViolenceContainerFluid
In practice
Example use cases
During a workshop on emotional intelligence, this quote can be used to illustrate how anger can be managed.
More from Leymah Gbowee
All quotes →Activism is something that no one can fake. You get angry. You cry. But you never throw in your towel, because that anger is what is propelling you to further action.
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Leadership is standing with your people. People say you have to live to fight another day, but sometimes you have to show you are a true leader.
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At 17, the first time I saw a dead body, I froze. By 31 it was a natural occurrence for me, and no group of people should live like that.
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The one thing I have never been afraid of is standing before important people and speaking my mind. I represent women who may never have the opportunity to go to the UN or meet with a president. I'm never afraid to speak truth to power.
Leymah GboweeRead
When women gather, great things will happen.
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