When I speak of the erotic, then I speak of it as an assertion of the life force of women; of that creative energy empowered, the knowledge and use of which we are now reclaiming in our language, our history, our dancing, our loving, our work, our lives.
Interpretation
The quote emphasizes women's empowerment through their erotic energy as a vital force in life.
Audre Lorde's quote highlights the significance of the erotic as an expression of women's life force and creative energy. It suggests that reclaiming this aspect of femininity is essential for women's self-identity, influencing their language, history, and various facets of their lives, including love and work. Through embracing this energy, women can assert their power and creativity.
In practice
This quote can be used in a women's empowerment workshop to highlight the importance of reclaiming personal strength.
The fact that we are here and that I speak these words is an attempt to break that silence and bridge some of those differences between us, for it is not difference which immobilizes us, but silence. And there are so many silences to be broken.
There is no thing as a single-issue struggle because we do not live single-issue lives.
There are no new ideas. There are only new ways of making them felt.
I am not free while any woman is unfree, even when her shackles are very different from my own.
I am deliberate and afraid of nothing.
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 think I fall into the category of the hopeless romantic, and I think youdo too, because you're here...The tricky thing about us, the hopeless romantic, is when we fall in love with someone, when we say hello—and it’s magical—we never imagine that hello can turn into a goodbye. And when we kiss someone—and it’s magical—we never ever imagine that it can turn into a last kiss.
You are always new, the last of your kisses was ever the sweetest.
From suffering I have learned this: that whoever is sore wounded by love will never be made whole unless she embraces the very same love which wounded her.
I will make love my greatest weapon and none on whom I call can defend against its force._x000D_ _x000D_ My reasoning they may counter; my speech they may distrust; my apparel they may disapprove; my face they may reject; and even my bargains may cause them suspicion; yet my love will melt all hearts liken to the sun whose rays soften the coldest clay._x000D_ _x000D_ I will greet this day with love in my heart.
If I gaze at my beloved she may feel embarrassed and if I do not, she will feel neglected. I can see the stars reflecting in the calm water of her face but if I look away I lose my clarity.
Dare not say that man forgets sooner than woman, that his love has an earlier death. I have loved none but you.
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