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A choice of pains. That’s what living was all about.

Audre Lorde

Oppressors always expect the oppressed to extend to them the understanding so lacking in themselves.
AUDRE LORDE

Expectation Extend Lack Oppression Understand
Change is the immediate responsibility of each of us, wherever and however we are standing, in whatever arena we choose.
AUDRE LORDE

Arena Change Choose Immediate Responsiblity Stand
I have been woman for a long time beware my smile I am treacherous with old magic.
AUDRE LORDE

Beware Magic Old Smile Woman
In our work and in our living, we must recognize that difference is a reason for celebration and growth, rather than a reason for destruction.
AUDRE LORDE

Celebration Destruction Difference Growth Live Reason Recognize Work
You cannot use someone else’s fire. You can only use your own. And in order to do that, you must first be willing to believe that you have it.
AUDRE LORDE

Believe Fire Motivational Willing Women Empowerment
Poetry is not only dream and vision; it is the skeleton architecture of our lives. It lays the foundations for a future of change, a bridge across our fears of what has never been before.
AUDRE LORDE

Architecture Change Dreams Future Live Poetry Vision
Tomorrow belongs to those of us who conceive of it as belonging to everyone; who lend the best of ourselves to it, and with joy.
AUDRE LORDE

Belong Conceive Future Inspirational Joy Ourselves
I have come to believe that caring for myself is not self-indulgent. Caring for myself is an act of survival.
AUDRE LORDE

Act Believe Care Indulgence Myself Survival
Sometimes we are blessed with being able to choose the time, and the arena, and the manner of our revolution, but more usually we must do battle where we are standing.
AUDRE LORDE

Arena Battle Blessing Choose Manner Revolution Stand
We are powerful because we have survived, and that is what it is all about survival and growth.
AUDRE LORDE

Growth Inspirational Powerful Survival Women Empowerment
I want to live the rest of my life, however long or short, with as much sweetness as I can decently manage, loving all the people I love, and doing as much as I can of the work I still have to do.
AUDRE LORDE

Decent Life Live Love Management People Sweet Want Work
Anger, used, does not destroy. Hatred does.
AUDRE LORDE

Angry Destroy Hatred
We are all more blind to what we have than to what we have not.
AUDRE LORDE

Blind Deep Gratitude
Guilt and defensiveness are bricks in a wall against which we all flounder; they serve none of our futures.
AUDRE LORDE

Against Brick Defense Future Guilty Serve Wall
I am not only a casualty, I am also a warrior.
AUDRE LORDE

Warrior Women Empowerment
I remember how being young and Black and gay and lonely felt. A lot of it was fine, feeling I had the truth and the light and the key, but a lot of it was purely hell.
AUDRE LORDE

Black Gay Hell Loneliness Remember Truth

A choice of pains. That’s what living was all about.

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A choice of pains. That’s what living was all about.

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