People have told me that Ive helped them feel confident, like they can say things they want to say. They can talk about feminism in class without people calling them a lesbian. Thats so amazing that I can make someone feel like that.
Interpretation
The quote highlights the impact of empowerment on self-expression and confidence.
In this quote, Lorde expresses her fulfillment in helping others feel empowered to express their thoughts and beliefs, particularly around topics like feminism. She emphasizes the importance of creating a safe space where individuals can voice their opinions without fear of judgment, showcasing the transformative power of support and understanding in fostering confidence and open dialogue.
In practice
In a speech about gender equality, you might quote Lorde to inspire openness in discussions.
With pop music and pop musicians, you know everything about everyone all the time, particularly their physical appearance. With female musicians, that's made a big thing of, and I think people, certainly with me, have appreciated a bit of mystery.
I think young people are the most creative and the coolest - people that we should be learning from. Even when I'm at a party, I'm analyzing it and thinking about it in the context of how I would write about it. That side of me never switches off.
People respond to something which intrigues them instead of something that gives them all the information - particularly in pop, which is, like, the genre for knowing way too much about everyone and everything.
Everyone’s competing for a love they won't receive.
Don't let some random comment that you wouldn't have even thought about overshadow something important that you were actually trying to say.
I always try to be myself. Ever since I was an introverted kid, I'd get on stage and be able to break out of my shell.
When I'm hard at work, when I'm deep in it, there is no other feeling. For me, my work is at all times building a nation out of thin air. It is manning the troops. It is painting a canvas. It is hitting every high note. It is running a marathon. It is being Beyonce. And it is all of those things at the same time.
When I started this run, I said that if we all gave one dollar, we’d have $22 million for cancer research, and I don’t care man, there’s no reason that isn’t possible. No reason!
We have a positive vision of the future founded on the belief that the gap between the promise and reality of America can one day be finally closed. We believe that.
Today you are you! That is truer than true! There is no one alive who is you-er than you!
That is what we are supposed to do when we are at our best - make it all up - but make it up so truly that later it will happen that way.
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