If I do not speak in a language that can be understood there is little chance for a dialogue. Bell Hooks More Quotes by Bell Hooks More Quotes From Bell Hooks Whenever domination is present, love is lacking. Bell Hooks dominationlackinglove-is Writing is my passion. It is a way to experience the ecstatic. The root understanding of the word ecstasy—“to stand outside”—comes to me in those moments when I am immersed so deeply in the act of thinking and writing that everything else, even flesh, falls away. Bell Hooks passionwritingfall As we search as a nation for constructive ways to challenge racism and white supremacy, it is absolutely essential that progressive female voices gain a hearing. Bell Hooks voiceracismwhite White women and black men have it both ways. They can act as oppressor or ... and oppression of others. Bell Hooks blackwhitemen Living simply makes loving simple. Bell Hooks simplicitysimple For most people, what is so painful about reading is that you read something and you don't have anybody to share it with. In part what the book club opens up is that people can read a book and then have someone else to talk about it with. Then they see that a book can lead to the pleasure of conversation, that the solitary act of reading can actually be a part of the path to communion and community. Bell Hooks readingbookpeople Individual heterosexual women came to the movement from relationships where men were cruel, unkind, violent, unfaithful. Many of these men were radical thinkers who participated in movements for social justice, speaking out on behalf of the workers, the poor, speaking out on behalf of racial justice. However when it came to the issue of gender they were as sexist as their conservative cohorts. Bell Hooks issuesjusticemen Part of the heart of anarchy is, dare to go against the grain of the conventional ways of thinking about our realities. Anarchists have always gone against the grain, and that's been a place of hope. Bell Hooks heartrealitythinking Changing how we see images is clearly one way to change the world. Bell Hooks changing-the-worldwayworld Shame produces trauma. Trauma produces paralysis. Bell Hooks traumashameproduce Think of all the women you know who will not allow themselves to be seen without makeup. I often wonder how they feel about themselves at night when they are climbing into bed with intimate partners. Are they overwhelmed with secret shame that someone sees them as they really are? Or do they sleep with rage that who they really are can be celebrated or cared for only in secret? Bell Hooks makeupsleepnight I believe that it is impossible for two individuals not committed to their own and each other’s well being to sustain a healthy and enduring relationship. Bell Hooks healthytwobelieve I have been thinking about the notion of perfect love as being without fear, and what that means for us in a world that's becoming increasingly xenophobic, tortured by fundamentalism and nationalism. Bell Hooks perfectmeanthinking Writing and performing should deepen the meaning of words, should illuminate, transfix and transform. Bell Hooks performingshouldwriting One of the greatest difficulties the left faces in reaching out to masses of people in America is its profound disrespect of spirituality and religious life…people on the left need to acknowledge – we need to grapple with – the question of religion. Bell Hooks religiousamericapeople Imagine how much easier it would be for us to learn how to love if we began with a shared definition. Bell Hooks how-to-lovedefinitionswould-be . . . no Black woman can become an intellectual without decolonizing her mind. Bell Hooks blackintellectualmind One of the things I find most exciting is talking with people who are working with my work. Who are using it in some way with their life to address everyday politics of meaning. Bell Hooks everydaytalkingpeople The word "love" is most often defined as a noun, yet al the more astute theorists of love acknowledge that we would all love better if we used it as a verb. Bell Hooks nounsverbslove-is Of all the definitions of love that abound in our universe, a special favorite of mine is... “the will to extend one's self for the purpose of nurturing one's own or another's spiritual growth.” Bell Hooks growthselfspiritual
