I constantly felt (as I suppose many an ambitious girl has felt) a thumping from within unanswered by any beckoning from without.
Interpretation
The quote expresses an inner drive and ambition that is not always recognized or encouraged by the outside world.
Anna Julia Cooper highlights the internal struggle of ambition, particularly for women who often face societal barriers. She suggests that many ambitious individuals feel a strong desire to succeed from within, which may not be matched by external support or recognition, emphasizing the importance of self-motivation in the face of obstacles.
In practice
This quote can inspire young women pursuing their dreams despite societal expectations.
It is not the intelligent woman v. the ignorant woman; nor the white woman v. the black, the brown, and the red, it is not even the cause of woman v. man. Nay, tis woman's strongest vindication for speaking that the world needs to hear her voice.
I speak for the colored women of the South, because it is there that the millions of blacks in this country have watered the soil with blood and tears, and it is there too that the colored woman of America has made her characteristic history and there her destiny is evolving.
Let woman's claim be as broad in the concrete as the abstract. We take our stand on the solidarity of humanity, the oneness of life, and the unnaturalness and injustice of all special favoritism, whether of sex, race, country, or condition. If one link of the chain is broken, the chain is broken.
Bullies are always cowards at heart and may be credited with a pretty safe instinct in scenting their prey.
The cause of freedom is not the cause of a race or a sect, a party or a class - it is the cause of humankind, the very birthright of humanity.
Peace produced by suppression is neither natural nor desirable.
The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle.
If you want to be a Champion, you've got to feel like one, you've got to act like one, you've got to look like one.
Never give up. When your heart becomes tired, just walk with your legs - but move on.
When we make progress and get better at something, it is inherently motivating. In order for people to make progress, they have to get feedback and information on how they're doing.
God gave me an actor's role; I have done that well. God gave me now a political role, and I am 100 per cent sure I will perform that well.
You miss a lot of opportunities by making mistakes, but that's part of it: knowing that you're not shut out forever, and that there's a goal you still can reach.
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