black
grey
blue
red
brown
white

Definitions belong to the definers, not the defined.

Toni Morrison

We mistook violence for passion, indolence for leisure, and thought recklessness was freedom.
TONI MORRISON

Freedom Leisure Passion Violence
There is really nothing more to say-except why. But since why is difficult to handle, one must take refuge in how.
TONI MORRISON

Difficult Except Handle Inspirational Refuge
I didn’t want to speak for black people. I wanted to speak to and to be among. It’s us.
TONI MORRISON

Black Lives Matter People Speak Want
Art invites us to know beauty and to solicit it, summon it, from even the most tragic of circumstances.
TONI MORRISON

Art Beautiful Circumstance Invitation Tragic
I think some aspects of writing can be taught. Obviously, you can’t teach vision or talent. But you can help with comfort.
TONI MORRISON

Comfortable Help Talent Teaching Writing
The enemy is not men. The enemy is the concept of patriarchy, the concept of patriarchy as the way to run the world or do things.
TONI MORRISON

Concept Enemy Men World
Passion is never enough; neither is skill.
TONI MORRISON

Change Inspirtional Passion Skill
It is sheer good fortune to miss somebody long before they leave you.
TONI MORRISON

Break Up Broken Heart Fortune Leaving Missing Sheer
There’s a difference between writing for a living and writing for life. If you write for a living, you make enormous compromises. If you write for life, you’ll work hard; you’ll do what’s honest, not what pays.
TONI MORRISON

Difference Hard Work Honesty Life Live Pay Writing
Sometimes what I write on the page frightens me, so I feel free when I write, but I don’t feel safe.
TONI MORRISON

Feeling Safe Writing
A sister can be seen as someone who is both ourselves and very much not ourselves – a special kind of double.
TONI MORRISON

Kindness Ourselves Sister Special
Freedom is choosing your responsibility. It’s not having no responsibilitie s; it’s choosing the ones you want.
TONI MORRISON

Choose Freedom Responsiblity Want
In this country American means white. Everybody else has to hyphenate.
TONI MORRISON

Country White
Black people’s music is in a class by itself and always has been.
TONI MORRISON

Black Lives Matter Music People
I have only to break into the tightness of a strawberry, and I see summer – its dust and lowering skies.
TONI MORRISON

Break Strawberry Summer
Misery don’t call ahead. That’s why you have to stay awake – otherwise it just walks on in your door.
TONI MORRISON

Awake Door Misery Walk

Definitions belong to the definers, not the defined.

Related Topics

Popular Authors

Definitions belong to the definers, not the defined.

Related Topics

Popular Authors

More Toni Morrison Quotes