When silence is a choice, it is an unnerving presence. When silence is imposed, it is censorship.
Terry Tempest WilliamsRead
The human heart is the first home of democracy. It is where we embrace our questions: Can we be equitable? Can we be generous? Can we listen with our whole beings, not just our minds, and offer our attention rather than our opinion? And do we have enough resolve in our hearts to act courageously, relentlessly, without giving up, trusting our fellow citizens to join us in our determined pursuit-a living democracy?
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes the importance of empathy and heart in nurturing a true democracy.
Terry Tempest Williams suggests that democracy begins within the human heart, advocating for a thoughtful and compassionate approach to civic engagement. It highlights the need for individuals to ask deep questions about equity, generosity, and listening, emphasizing that a successful democracy relies on collective courage and active participation from all citizens.
Themes
DemocracyEmpathyCitizenshipParticipationCourageQuestions
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about community engagement, one might say, 'As Terry Tempest Williams reminds us, the human heart is the first home of democracy, urging us all to embrace our questions and act with courage.'
More from Terry Tempest Williams
All quotes →Once upon a time, when women were birds, there was the simple understanding that to sing at dawn, and to sing at dusk, was to heal the world through joy. The birds still remember what we have forgotten, that the world is meant to be celebrated.
Terry Tempest WilliamsRead
I am slowly, painfully discovering that my refuge is not found in my mother, my grandmother, of even the birds of Bear River. My refuge exists in my capacity to love. If I can learn to love death then I can begin to find refuge in change.
Terry Tempest WilliamsRead
How do we remain faithful to our own spiritual imagination and not betray what we know in our own bodies? The world is holy. We are holy. All life is holy.
Terry Tempest WilliamsRead
The Eyes of the Future are looking back at us and they are praying for us to see beyond our own time.
Terry Tempest WilliamsRead
Women piece together their lives from the scraps left over for them.
Terry Tempest WilliamsRead
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