its-been-mentioned-or-suggested-that-paradise-will-not-be-well-studied-because-its-about-this-unimportant-intellectual-topic-which-is-religion
black-literature-is-taught-as-sociology-as-tolerance-not-as-a-serious-rigorous-art-form
at-some-point-in-life-the-worlds-beauty-becomes-enough-you-dont-need-to-photograph-paint-or-even-remember-it-it-is-enough
i-dont-think-a-female-running-a-house-is-a-problem-a-broken-family-its-perceived-as-one-because-of-the-notion-that-a-head-is-a-man
all-water-has-a-perfect-memory-and-is-forever-trying-to-get-back-to-where-it-was
as-you-enter-positions-of-trust-and-power-dream-a-little-before-you-think
the-ability-of-writers-to-imagine-what-is-not-the-self-to-familiarize-the-strange-and-mystify-the-familiar-is-the-test-of-their-power
beloved-you-are-my-sister-you-are-my-daughter-you-are-my-face-you-are-me
if-youre-going-to-hold-someone-down-youre-going-to-have-to-hold-on-by-the-other-end-of-the-chain-you-are-confined-by-your-own-repression
there-is-really-nothing-more-to-sayexcept-why-but-since-why-is-difficult-to-handle-one-must-take-refuge-in-how
we-die-that-may-be-the-meaning-of-life-but-we-do-language-that-may-be-the-measure-of-our-lives
sweet-crazy-conversations-full-of-half-sentences-daydreams-and-misunderstandings-are-more-thrilling-than-understanding-could-ever-be
a-sister-can-be-seen-as-someone-who-is-both-ourselves-and-very-much-not-ourselves-a-special-kind-of-double
the-loneliest-woman-in-the-world-is-the-woman-without-a-close-woman-friend
if-theres-a-book-you-really-want-to-read-but-it-hasnt-been-written-yet-then-you-must-write-it
a-sister-can-be-seen-as-someone-who-is-both-ourselves-much-not-ourselves-special-kind-double
I tell my students one of the most important things they need to know is when they are at their best, creatively. They need to ask themselves, What does the ideal room look like? Is there music? Is there silence? Is there chaos outside or is there serenity outside? What do I need in order to release my imagination?
Toni Morrison
i-tell-my-students-one-most-important-things-they-need-to-know-is-when-they-are-at-their-best-creatively-they-need-to-ask-themselves-what-does-toni-morrison
intimacy-is-extremely-important-to-me-i-want-it-to-be-extremely-important-to-readers-toni-morrison
I think being an editor really helped me take other people's notes on my writing. I'd get a note like 'It's too wet' or 'The first couple chapters are good, but then the rest of the pages were so wet that they were completely illegible' or 'Did you dip this in Sprite? This smells like Sprite. Why would you dip your novel in Sprite?' And instead of pushing back, I'd listen. That's an incredibly important skill for a young writer to have.
Toni Morrison
i-think-being-editor-really-helped-me-take-other-peoples-notes-on-my-writing-id-get-note-like-its-too-wet-the-first-couple-chapters-are-good-but-toni-morrison
editor quoteshelped quotespeoples quotesnotes quoteswriting quotesnote quotesits quoteswet quotesthe quotescouple quoteschapters quotesgood quotesrest quotespages quoteswet quotescompletely quotesillegible quotesdid quotesdip quotessprite quotessmells quotessprite quotessprite quotespushing quotesback quoteslisten quotesincredibly quotesimportant quotesskill quotesyoung quoteswriter quotes
movements-toward-freedom-selfrespect-that-comes-from-something-other-than-what-people-think-is-their-most-important-feature-toni-morrison
let-your-face-speak-whats-in-your-heart-when-my-kids-walk-in-room-my-face-says-im-glad-to-see-them-toni-morrison
The idea of a wanton woman is something I have inserted into almost all of my books. An outlaw figure who is disallowed in the community because of her imagination or activity or status - that kind of anarchic figure has always fascinated me. And the benefits they bring with them, in spite of the fact that they are either dismissed or upbraided - something about their presence is constructive in the long run.
Toni Morrison
the-idea-wanton-woman-is-something-i-have-inserted-into-almost-all-my-books-an-outlaw-figure-who-is-disallowed-in-community-because-her-toni-morrison
idea quoteswanton quoteswoman quotesinserted quotesbooks quotesoutlaw quotesfigure quotesdisallowed quotescommunity quotesimagination quotesactivity quotesstatus quoteskind quotesanarchic quotesfascinated quotesbenefits quotesbring quotesspite quotesfact quotesdismissed quotesupbraided quotespresence quotesconstructive quoteslong quotesrun quotes
Two parents can't raise a child any more than one. You need a whole community - everybody - to raise a child. And the little nuclear family is a paradigm that just doesn't work. It doesn't work for white people or for black people. Why are we hanging onto it, I don't know. It isolates people into little units - people need a larger unit.
Toni Morrison
two-parents-cant-raise-child-any-more-than-one-you-need-whole-community-everybody-to-raise-child-and-little-nuclear-family-is-paradigm-that-toni-morrison
Anger ... it's a paralyzing emotion ... you can't get anything done. People sort of think it's an interesting, passionate, and igniting feeling "" I don't think it's any of that "" it's helpless ... it's absence of control "" and I need all of my skills, all of the control, all of my powers ... and anger doesn't provide any of that "" I have no use for it whatsoever." [Interview with CBS radio host Don Swaim, September 15, 1987.]
Toni Morrison
anger-its-paralyzing-emotion-you-cant-get-anything-done-people-sort-think-its-interesting-passionate-igniting-feeling-i-dont-think-its-any-toni-morrison
anger quotesparalyzing quotesemotion quotespeople quotessort quotesinteresting quotespassionate quotesigniting quotesfeeling quoteshelpless quotesabsence quotescontrol quotesskills quotescontrol quotespowers quotesanger quotesprovide quoteswhatsoever quotesinterview quotescbs quotesradio quoteshost quotesdon quotesswaim quotesseptember quotes15 quotes1987 quotes
Never did he once consider directing his hatred toward the hunters. Such an emotion would have destroyed him ... His subconscious knew what his min did not guess-that hating them would have consumed him, burned him up like a piece of soft coal, leaving only flakes of ash and a question mark of smoke.
Toni Morrison
never-did-he-once-consider-directing-his-hatred-toward-hunters-such-emotion-would-have-destroyed-him-his-subconscious-knew-what-his-min-did-not-toni-morrison
anger-its-paralyzing-emotion-you-cant-get-anything-done-toni-morrison
i-have-wonderful-pleasure-finishing-book-closing-it-and-i-dont-read-them-later-toni-morrison
sweet-crazy-conversations-full-half-sentences-daydreams-misunderstandings-more-thrilling-than-understanding-could-ever-be-toni-morrison
True the Black woman did the housework, the drudgery; true, she reared the children, often alone, but she did all of that while occupying a place on the job market, a place her mate could not get or which his pride would not let him accept.And she had nothing to fall back on: not maleness, not whiteness, not ladyhood, not anything. And out of the profound desolation of her reality she may very well have invented herself.
Toni Morrison
true-black-woman-did-housework-drudgery-true-she-reared-children-often-alone-but-she-did-all-that-while-occupying-place-on-job-market-place-toni-morrison
true quotesblack quoteswoman quoteshousework quotesdrudgery quotestrue quotesreared quoteschildren quotesoccupying quotesplace quotesjob quotesmarket quotesmate quotespride quotesacceptand quotesfall quotesback quotesmaleness quoteswhiteness quotesladyhood quotesprofound quotesdesolation quotesreality quotesinvented quotes
from-my-point-view-your-life-is-already-miracle-chance-waiting-for-you-to-shape-its-destiny-toni-morrison
your-life-is-already-artfulwaiting-just-waiting-for-you-to-make-it-art-toni-morrison
I remember a very important lesson that my father gave me when I was twelve or thirteen. He said, "You know, today I welded a perfect seam and I signed my name to it." And I said, "But, Daddy, no one's going to see it!" And he said, "Yeah, but I know it's there." So when I was working in kitchens, I did good work.
Toni Morrison
i-remember-important-lesson-that-my-father-gave-me-when-i-was-twelve-thirteen-he-said-you-know-today-i-welded-perfect-seam-i-signed-my-name-to-it-toni-morrison
when-you-stiffen-you-know-that-whatever-you-stiffen-about-is-important-the-stuff-is-important-fear-itself-is-information-toni-morrison
was-it-hard-i-hope-she-didnt-die-hard-sethe-shook-her-head-soft-as-cream-being-alive-was-hard-part-toni-morrison
its-gonna-hurt-now-said-amy-anything-dead-coming-back-to-life-hurts-toni-morrison
Never did he once consider directing his hatred toward the hunters. Such an emotion would have destroyed him... His subconscious knew what his min did not guess-that hating them would have consumed him, burned him up like a piece of soft coal, leaving only flakes of ash and a question mark of smoke.
Toni Morrison
never-did-he-once-consider-directing-his-hatred-toward-hunters-such-emotion-would-have-destroyed-him-his-subconscious-knew-what-his-min-did-not-guessthat-hating-them-would-have-c
It comforts everybody to think of all Negroes as dirt poor, and to regard those who were not, who earned good money and kept it, as some kind of shameful miracle. White people liked that idea because Negroes with money and sense made them nervous. Colored people liked it because, in those days, they trusted poverty, believed it was a virtue and a sure sign of honesty. Too much money had a whiff of evil and somebody else's blood.
Toni Morrison
it-comforts-everybody-to-think-all-negroes-as-dirt-poor-to-regard-those-who-were-not-who-earned-good-money-kept-it-as-some-kind-shameful-miracle-white-people-liked-that-idea-beca
comforts quotesnegroes quotesdirt quotespoor quotesregard quotesearned quotesgood quotesmoney quoteskind quotesshameful quotesmiracle quoteswhite quotespeople quotesidea quotessense quotesmade quotesnervous quotescolored quotesdays quotestrusted quotespoverty quotesbelieved quotesvirtue quotessign quoteshonesty quoteswhiff quotesevil quoteselses quotesblood quotes
This is the time for every artist in every genre to do what he or she does loudly and consistently. It doesn't matter to me what your position is. You've got to keep asserting the complexity and the originality of life, and the multiplicity of it, and the facets of it. This is about being a complex human being in the world, not about finding a villain. This is no time for anything else than the best that you've got.
Toni Morrison
this-is-time-for-every-artist-in-every-genre-to-do-what-he-she-does-loudly-consistently-it-doesnt-matter-to-me-what-your-position-is-youve-got-to-keep-asserting-complexity-origin
its-bad-word-belong-especially-when-you-put-it-with-somebody-you-love-you-cant-own-human-being-toni-morrison
freeing-yourself-was-one-thing-claiming-ownership-that-freed-self-was-another-toni-morrison
She led him to the top of the stairs, where light came straight from the sky because the second-story windows of that house had been placed in the pitched ceiling and not the walls. There were two rooms and she took him into one of them, hoping he wouldn't mind the fact that she was not prepared; that though she could remember desire, she had forgotten how it worked; the clutch and helplessness that resided in the hands; how blindness was altered so that what leapt to the eye were places to lie down, and all else-doorknobs, straps, hooks, the sadness that crouched in corners, and the passing of time-was interference.
Toni Morrison
she-led-him-to-top-stairs-where-light-came-straight-from-sky-because-secondstory-windows-that-house-had-been-placed-in-pitched-ceiling-not-walls-there-were-two-rooms-she-took-him
led quotestop quotesstairs quoteslight quotesstraight quotessky quotessecondstory quoteswindows quoteshouse quotespitched quotesceiling quoteswalls quotesrooms quoteshoping quotesmind quotesfact quotesprepared quotesremember quotesdesire quotesforgotten quotesworked quotesclutch quoteshelplessness quotesresided quoteshands quotesblindness quotesaltered quotesleapt quoteseye quotesplaces quoteslie quoteselsedoorknobs quotesstraps quoteshooks quotessadness quotescrouched quotescorners quotespassing quotestimewas quotesinterference quotes
What do you know about somebody not being good enough for somebody else? And since when did you care whether Corinthians stood up or fell down? You've been laughing at us all your life. Corinthians. Mama. Me. Using us, ordering us, and judging us: how we cook your food; how we keep your house. But now, all of a sudden, you have Corinthians' welfare at heart and break her up from a man you don't approve of. Who are you to approve or disapprove anybody or anything? I was breathing air in the world thirteen years before your lungs were even formed. Corinthians, twelve... but now you know what's best for the very woman who wiped the dribble from your chin because you were too young to know how to spit. Our girlhood was spent like a found nickel on you. When you slept, we were quiet; when you were hungry, we cooked; when you wanted to play, we entertained you; and when you got grown enough to know the difference between a woman and a two-toned Ford, everything in this house stopped for you. You have yet to... move a fleck of your dirt from one place to another. And to this day, you have never asked one of us if we were tired, or sad, or wanted a cup of coffee... Where do you get the RIGHT to decide our lives?... I'll tell you where. From that hog's gut that hangs down between your legs... I didn't go to college because of him. Because I was afraid of what he might do to Mama. You think because you hit him once that we all believe you were protecting her. Taking her side. It's a lie. You were taking over, letting us know you had the right to tell her and all of us what to do... I don't make roses anymore, and you have pissed your last in this house.
Toni Morrison
what-do-you-know-about-somebody-not-being-good-enough-for-somebody-else-and-since-when-did-you-care-whether-corinthians-stood-up-fell-down-youve-been-laughing-at-us-all-your-life
good quotescare quotescorinthians quotesstood quotesfell quoteslaughing quoteslife quotescorinthians quotesmama quotesordering quotesjudging quotescook quotesfood quoteshouse quotessudden quotescorinthians quoteswelfare quotesheart quotesbreak quotesman quotesapprove quotesdisapprove quotesbreathing quotesair quotesworld quotesthirteen quotesyears quoteslungs quotesformed quotescorinthians quotestwelve quoteswoman quoteswiped quotesdribble quoteschin quotesyoung quotesspit quotesgirlhood quotesspent quotesfound quotesnickel quotesslept quotesquiet quoteshungry quotescooked quoteswanted quotesplay quotesentertained quotesgrown quotesdifference quotestwotoned quotesford quoteshouse quotesstopped quotesmove quotesfleck quotesdirt quotesplace quotesday quotesasked quotestired quotessad quotescup quotescoffee quotesdecide quoteslives quoteshogs quotesgut quoteshangs quoteslegs quotescollege quotesafraid quoteshit quotesprotecting quotestaking quotesside quoteslie quotestaking quotesletting quotesmake quotesroses quotesanymore quotespissed quotes
Where do you get the right to decide our lives? I'll tell you where. From that little hog's gut that hangs between your legs. Well, let me tell you something... you will need more than that. I don't know where you will get it or who will give it to you, but mark my words, you will need more than that... You are a sad, pitiful, stupid, selfish, hateful man. I hope your little hog's gut stands you in good stead, and you take good care of it, because you don't have anything else.
Toni Morrison
where-do-you-get-right-to-decide-our-lives-ill-tell-you-where-from-that-little-hogs-gut-that-hangs-between-your-legs-well-let-me-tell-you-something-you-will-need-more-than-that-i
But then Job was a man. Invisibility was intolerable to men. What complaint would a female Job dare to put forth? And if, having done so, and He deigned to remind her of how weak and ignorant she was, where was the news in that? What shocked Job into humility and renewed fidelity was the message a female Job would have known and heard every minute of her life.
Toni Morrison
but-then-job-was-man-invisibility-was-intolerable-to-men-what-complaint-would-female-job-dare-to-put-forth-and-if-having-done-he-deigned-to-remind-her-how-weak-ignorant-she-was-w
I am charmed by the idea that there is an activity known as work and another as play, although even in grade school the distinction eluded me. I remember how full of hope I was sitting in first-period home room listening to the teacher divide up our activities into purposeful sections. I got a grip on her process, at last, by picturing it in the following way: A cow stands in clover. When she is milked, that is her work; when she is merely eating, that is her play. But the problem lay, then as now, in the realization that, in any case, she is standing in clover. Not a handsome or elegant analogy, but it approximates for me the habit of reading - standing in a world of clover, the eating of which is occasionally utilitarian, usually nourishing, because that's what one does
Toni Morrison
i-am-charmed-by-idea-that-there-is-activity-known-as-work-another-as-play-although-even-in-grade-school-distinction-eluded-me-i-remember-how-full-hope-i-was-sitting-in-firstperio
charmed quotesidea quotesactivity quoteswork quotesplay quotesgrade quotesschool quotesdistinction quoteseluded quotesremember quotesfull quoteshope quotessitting quotesfirstperiod quoteshome quotesroom quoteslistening quotesteacher quotesdivide quotesactivities quotespurposeful quotessections quotesgrip quotesprocess quotespicturing quotescow quotesstands quotesclover quotesmilked quoteswork quoteseating quotesplay quotesproblem quoteslay quotesrealization quotescase quotesstanding quoteshandsome quoteselegant quotesanalogy quotesapproximates quoteshabit quotesreading quotesworld quotesclover quoteseating quotesoccasionally quotesutilitarian quotesnourishing quotes
you-have-pissed-your-last-in-this-house-i-dont-make-velvet-roses-anymore-toni-morrison
she-missed-without-knowing-what-she-missed-paints-crayons-toni-morrison
i-want-to-feel-what-i-feel-whats-mine-even-if-its-not-happiness-whatever-that-means-because-youre-all-youve-got-toni-morrison
See? See what you can do? Never mind you can't tell one letter from another, never mind you born a slave, never mind you lose your name, never mind your daddy dead, never mind nothing. Here, this here, is what a man can do if he puts his mind to it and his back in it. Stop sniveling, ' [the land] said. 'Stop picking around the edges of the world. Take advantage, and if you can't take advantage, take disadvantage. We live here. On this planet, in this nation, in this county right here. Nowhere else! We got a home in this rock, don't you see! Nobody starving in my home; nobody crying in my home, and if I got a home you got one too! Grab it. Grab this land! Take it, hold it, my brothers, make it, my brothers, shake it, squeeze it, turn it, twist it, beat it, kick it, kiss it, whip it, stomp it, dig it, plow it, seed it, reap it, rent it, buy it, sell it, own it, build it, multiply it, and pass it on - can you hear me? Pass it on!
Toni Morrison
see-see-what-you-can-do-never-mind-you-cant-tell-one-letter-from-another-never-mind-you-born-slave-never-mind-you-lose-your-name-never-mind-your-daddy-dead-never-mind-nothing-her
mind quotesletter quotesborn quotesslave quoteslose quotesdaddy quotesdead quotesman quotesputs quotesback quotesstop quotessniveling quotes quotesland quotesstop quotespicking quotesedges quotesworld quotesadvantage quotesdisadvantage quoteslive quotesplanet quotesnation quotescounty quoteshome quotesrock quotesstarving quoteshome quotescrying quoteshome quotesgrab quotesland quoteshold quotesbrothers quotesmake quotesshake quotessqueeze quotesturn quotestwist quotesbeat quoteskick quoteskiss quoteswhip quotesstomp quotesdig quotesplow quotesseed quotesreap quotesrent quotesbuy quotessell quotesbuild quotesmultiply quotespass quoteshear quotespass quotes
in-this-country-american-means-white-everybody-else-has-to-hyphenate-toni-morrison
 place. It was the jungle whitefolks planted in them. And it grew. It spread. In, through and after life, it spread, until it invaded the whites who had made it. Touched them every one. Changed and altered them. Made them bloody, silly, worse than even they wanted to be, so scared were they of the jungle they had made. The screaming baboon lived under their own white skin; the red gums were their own.)
Whitepeople believed that whatever the manners, under every dark skin was a jungle. Swift unnavigable waters, swinging screaming baboons, sleeping snakes, red gums ready for their sweet white blood. In a way, he thought, they were right. The more coloredpeople spent their strength trying to convince them how gentle they were, how clever and loving, how human, the more they used themselves up to persuade whites of something Negroes believed could not be questioned, the deeper and more tangled the jungle grew inside. But it wasn't the jungle blacks brought with them to this place from the other (livable) place. It was the jungle whitefolks planted in them. And it grew. It spread. In, through and after life, it spread, until it invaded the whites who had made it. Touched them every one. Changed and altered them. Made them bloody, silly, worse than even they wanted to be, so scared were they of the jungle they had made. The screaming baboon lived under their own white skin; the red gums were their own.
Toni Morrison
whitepeople-believed-that-whatever-manners-under-every-dark-skin-was-jungle-swift-unnavigable-waters-swinging-screaming-baboons-sleeping-snakes-red-gums-ready-for-their-sweet-whi
whitepeople quotesbelieved quotesmanners quotesdark quotesskin quotesjungle quotesswift quotesunnavigable quoteswaters quotesswinging quotesscreaming quotesbaboons quotessleeping quotessnakes quotesred quotesgums quotesready quotessweet quoteswhite quotesblood quotesthought quotescoloredpeople quotesspent quotesstrength quotesconvince quotesgentle quotesclever quotesloving quoteshuman quotespersuade quoteswhites quotesnegroes quotesquestioned quotesdeeper quotestangled quotesjungle quotesgrew quotesinside quotesblacks quotesbrought quotesplace quoteslivable quotesplace quoteswhitefolks quotesplanted quotesgrew quotesspread quoteslife quotesspread quotesinvaded quotesmade quotestouched quoteschanged quotesaltered quotesmade quotesbloody quotessilly quotesworse quoteswanted quotesscared quotesmade quotesbaboon quoteslived quotesskin quotes
The function, the very serious function of racism is distraction. It keeps you from doing your work. It keeps you explaining, over and over again, your reason for being. Somebody says you have no language and you spend twenty years proving that you do. Somebody says your head isn't shaped properly so you have scientists working on the fact that it is. Somebody says you have no art, so you dredge that up. Somebody says you have no kingdoms, so you dredge that up. None of this is necessary. There will always be one more thing.
Toni Morrison
the-function-serious-function-racism-is-distraction-it-keeps-you-from-doing-your-work-it-keeps-you-explaining-over-over-again-your-reason-for-being-somebody-says-you-have-no-lang
despues-hizo-algo-megico-levanto-las-piernas-y-los-pies-de-sethe-y-los-masajeo-hasta-que-lloro-legrimas-saladas-ahora-te-dolere-dijo-amy-siempre-que-lo-muerto-vuelve-la-vida-duel
despues quoteshizo quotesalgo quotesmeÂgico quoteslevanto quoteslas quotespiernas quotesy quoteslos quotespies quotesde quotessethe quotesmasajeo quoteshasta quoteslloro quotesleÂgrimas quotessaladas quotesahora quoteste quotesdolere quotesdijo quotesamy quotessiempre quoteslo quotesmuerto quotesvuelve quotesla quotesvida quotesduele quotes
you-are-my-shaper-my-world-as-well-it-is-done-no-need-to-choose-toni-morrison
algen-de-ires-andando-por-el-camino-y-oires-o-veres-algo-con-toda-claridad-y-pensares-que-eres-te-la-que-este-pensando-una-imagen-pensada-pero-no-es-cuando-tropiezas-con-un-recue
algeºn quotesdeÂa quotesireÂs quotesandando quotespor quotesel quotescamino quotesy quotesoireÂs quoteso quotesvereÂs quotesalgo quotescon quotestoda quotesclaridad quotesy quotespensareÂs quoteseres quotesteº quotesla quoteseste quotespensando quotesuna quotesimagen quotespensada quotespero quoteses quotescuando quotestropiezas quotescon quotesrecuerdo quotesle quotespertenece quotesotro quotes
He talking Louisiana, you speaking Tennessee. The music so different, the sound coming from a different part of the body. It must of been like hearing lyrics set to scores by two different composers. But when you made love he must of have said I love you and you understood that and it was true, too, because I have seen the desperation in his eyes ever since-no matter what business venture he thinks up.
Toni Morrison
he-talking-louisiana-you-speaking-tennessee-the-music-different-sound-coming-from-different-part-body-it-must-been-like-hearing-lyrics-set-to-scores-by-two-different-composers-bu
talking quoteslouisiana quotesspeaking quotestennessee quotesmusic quotessound quotescoming quotespart quotesbody quoteshearing quoteslyrics quotesset quotesscores quotescomposers quotesmade quoteslove quotesunderstood quotestrue quotesdesperation quoteseyes quotessinceno quotesmatter quotesbusiness quotesventure quotesthinks quotes
Nothing could be taken for granted. Women who loved you tried to cut your throat, while women who didn't even know your name scrubbed your back. Witches could sound like Katharine Hepburn and your best friend could try to strangle you. Smack in the middle of an orchid there might be a blob of jello and inside a Mickey Mouse doll, a fixed and radiant star.
Toni Morrison
nothing-could-be-taken-for-granted-women-who-loved-you-tried-to-cut-your-throat-while-women-who-didnt-even-know-your-name-scrubbed-your-back-witches-could-sound-like-katharine-he
granted quoteswomen quotesloved quotescut quotesthroat quoteswomen quotesscrubbed quotesback quoteswitches quotessound quoteskatharine quoteshepburn quotesfriend quotesstrangle quotessmack quotesmiddle quotesorchid quotesblob quotesjello quotesinside quotesmickey quotesmouse quotesdoll quotesfixed quotesradiant quotesstar quotes
All of that art-for-art's-sake stuff is BS, ' she declares. 'What are these people talking about? Are you really telling me that Shakespeare and Aeschylus weren't writing about kings? All good art is political! There is none that isn't. And the ones that try hard not to be political are political by saying, 'We love the status quo.' We've just dirtied the word 'politics, ' made it sound like it's unpatriotic or something.' Morrison laughs derisively. 'That all started in the period of state art, when you had the communists and fascists running around doing this poster stuff, and the reaction was 'No, no, no; there's only aesthetics.' My point is that is has to be both: beautiful and political at the same time. I'm not interested in art that is not in the world. And it's not just the narrative, it's not just the story; it's the language and the structure and what's going on behind it. Anybody can make up a story.
Toni Morrison
all-that-artforartssake-stuff-is-bs-she-declares-what-are-these-people-talking-about-are-you-really-telling-me-that-shakespeare-aeschylus-werent-writing-about-kings-all-good-art-
artforartssake quotesstuff quotesbs quotes quotesdeclares quoteswhat quotespeople quotestalking quotestelling quotesshakespeare quotesaeschylus quoteswriting quoteskings quotesgood quotesart quotespolitical quoteshard quotespolitical quoteswe quoteslove quotesstatus quotesquo quotesdirtied quotesword quotespolitics quotesmade quotessound quotesunpatriotic quotessomething quotesmorrison quoteslaughs quotesderisively quotesthat quotesstarted quotesperiod quotesstate quotesart quotescommunists quotesfascists quotesrunning quotesposter quotesstuff quotesreaction quotesno quotesaesthetics quotespoint quotesbeautiful quotestime quotesinterested quotesworld quotesnarrative quotesstory quoteslanguage quotesstructure quotesmake quotesstory quotes
if-i-hadnt-trained-lula-ann-properly-she-wouldnt-have-known-to-always-cross-street-avoid-white-boys-toni-morrison
I'll tend to her as no mother ever tended a child, a daughter. Nobody will ever get my milk no more except my own children. I never had to give it to nobody else-and the one time I did it was took from me-they held me down and took it. Milk that belonged to my baby... I know what it is to be without the milk that belongs to you; to have to fight and holler for it, and to have so little left.
Toni Morrison
ill-tend-to-her-as-no-mother-ever-tended-child-daughter-nobody-will-ever-get-my-milk-no-more-except-my-own-children-i-never-had-to-give-it-to-nobody-else-one-time-i-did-it-was-to
she-was-fierce-in-presence-death-heroic-even-as-she-was-at-no-other-time-its-threat-gave-her-direction-clarity-audacity-toni-morrison
like-any-artist-without-art-form-she-became-dangerous-toni-morrison
But maybe a man was nothing but a man, which is what Baby Suggs always said. They encouraged you to put some of your weight in their hands and soon as you felt how light and lovely that was, they studied your scars and tribulations, after which they did what he had done: ran her children out and tore up the house. [... ] A man ain't nothing but a man, ' said Baby Suggs. 'But a son? Well now, that's somebody.
Toni Morrison
but-maybe-man-was-nothing-but-man-which-is-what-baby-suggs-always-said-they-encouraged-you-to-put-some-your-weight-in-their-hands-soon-as-you-felt-how-light-lovely-that-was-they-
And when spring comes to the City people notice one another in the road; notice the strangers with whom they share aisles and tables and the space where intimate garments are laundered. going in and out, in and out the same door, they handle the handle; on trolleys and park benches they settle thighs on a seat in which hundreds have done it too. Copper coins dropped in the palm have been swallowed by children and tested by gypsies, but it's still money and people smile at that. It's the time of year when the City urges contradiction most, encouraging you to buy street food when you have no appetite at all; giving you a taste for a single room occupied by you alone as well as a craving to share it with someone you passed in the street. Really there is no contradiction-rather it's a condition; the range of what an artful City can do. What can beat bricks warming up to the sun? The return of awnings. The removal of blankets from horses' backs. Tar softens under the heel and the darkness under bridges changes from gloom to cooling shade. After a light rain, when the leaves have come, tree limbs are like wet fingers playing in woolly green hair. Motor cars become black jet boxes gliding behind hoodlights weakened by mist. On sidewalks turned to satin figures move shoulder first, the crowns of their heads angled shields against the light buckshot that the raindrops are. The faces of children glimpsed at windows appear to be crying, but it is the glass pane dripping that makes it seem so.
Toni Morrison
and-when-spring-comes-to-city-people-notice-one-another-in-road-notice-strangers-with-whom-they-share-aisles-tables-space-where-intimate-garments-are-laundered-going-in-out-in-ou
spring quotescity quotespeople quotesnotice quotesroad quotesstrangers quotesshare quotesaisles quotestables quotesspace quotesintimate quotesgarments quoteslaundered quotesdoor quoteshandle quoteshandle quotestrolleys quotespark quotesbenches quotessettle quotesthighs quotesseat quoteshundreds quotescopper quotescoins quotesdropped quotespalm quotesswallowed quoteschildren quotestested quotesgypsies quotesmoney quotessmile quotestime quotesyear quotesurges quotescontradiction quotesencouraging quotesbuy quotesstreet quotesfood quotesappetite quotesgiving quotestaste quotessingle quotesroom quotesoccupied quotescraving quotespassed quotesstreet quotescontradictionrather quotescondition quotesrange quotesartful quotesbeat quotesbricks quoteswarming quotessun quotesreturn quotesawnings quotesremoval quotesblankets quoteshorses quotesbacks quotestar quotessoftens quotesheel quotesdarkness quotesbridges quotesgloom quotescooling quotesshade quoteslight quotesrain quotesleaves quotestree quoteslimbs quoteswet quotesfingers quotesplaying quoteswoolly quotesgreen quoteshair quotesmotor quotescars quotesblack quotesjet quotesboxes quotesgliding quoteshoodlights quotesweakened quotesmist quotessidewalks quotesturned quotessatin quotesfigures quotesmove quotesshoulder quotescrowns quotesheads quotesangled quotesshields quotesbuckshot quotesraindrops quotesfaces quotesglimpsed quoteswindows quotescrying quotesglass quotespane quotesdripping quotesmakes quotes
She is dead now, so I can say that she laughed like us, played like us and her adult life turned out okay- so I heard. But then when we were all twelve or less, it seemed as though she floated behind a scrim. Markedly pretty, she had eyes full of distance- a smile made more attractive by what it withheld; some knowingness it appeared unwilling to share. In the early forties "cool" was our word to describe her, although, at the time, I thought she was simply sad. Something treasured had been irretrievably lost, and there was nothing to be done about it. Her attitude reminded me of what I saw in the eyes of scary old people sitting in rocking chairs on the porch or leaning forward on a fence looking at us as though in a little while we would know the doom and catastrophe they already knew. "Uh huh", they murmured when we tripped over the door saddle or ruined our clothes. "where is your mind" they asked when we dropped the milk bottle, let the coal fire go out. Seriously asking a serious question, they showed no surprise. They knew we would always fall down, drop things, be ruined, and forget. And it was possible to lose your mind. She too seemed aware of our haplessness, but she did not wear their frown. A mournful sympathy infected her smile.
Toni Morrison
she-is-dead-now-i-can-say-that-she-laughed-like-us-played-like-us-her-adult-life-turned-out-okay-i-heard-but-then-when-we-were-all-twelve-less-it-seemed-as-though-she-floated-beh
dead quoteslaughed quotesplayed quotesadult quoteslife quotesturned quotesheard quotestwelve quotesfloated quotesscrim quotesmarkedly quotespretty quoteseyes quotesfull quotesdistance quotessmile quotesmade quotesattractive quoteswithheld quotesknowingness quotesappeared quotesunwilling quotesshare quotesearly quotesforties quotescool quotesword quotesdescribe quotestime quotesthought quotessimply quotessad quotestreasured quotesirretrievably quoteslost quotesattitude quotesreminded quotesscary quotespeople quotessitting quotesrocking quoteschairs quotesporch quotesleaning quotesforward quotesfence quotesdoom quotescatastrophe quotesknew quotesuh quoteshuh quotesmurmured quotestripped quotesdoor quotessaddle quotesruined quotesclothes quotesmind quotesasked quotesdropped quotesmilk quotesbottle quotescoal quotesfire quotesquestion quotesshowed quotessurprise quotesknew quotesfall quotesdrop quotesthings quotesruined quotesforget quoteslose quotesmind quotesaware quoteshaplessness quoteswear quotesfrown quotesmournful quotessympathy quotesinfected quotessmile quotes
 is easily the most empty clich??, the most useless word, and at the same time the most powerful human emotion-because hatred is involved in it, too.)
How soon country people forget. When they fall in love with a city it is forever, and it is like forever. As though there never was a time when they didn't love it. The minute they arrive at the train station or get off the ferry and glimpse the wide streets and the wasteful lamps lighting them, they know they are born for it. There, in a city, they are not so much new as themselves: their stronger, riskier selves.
Toni Morrison
how-soon-country-people-forget-when-they-fall-in-love-with-city-it-is-forever-it-is-like-forever-as-though-there-never-was-time-when-they-didnt-love-it-the-minute-they-arrive-at-
country quotespeople quotesforget quotesfall quoteslove quotescity quotesforever quotesforever quotestime quotesminute quotesarrive quotestrain quotesstation quotesferry quotesglimpse quoteswide quotesstreets quoteswasteful quoteslamps quoteslighting quotesborn quotescity quotesstronger quotesriskier quotes
You think because he doesn't love you that you are worthless. You think that because he doesn't want you anymore that he is right - that his judgement and opinion of you are correct. If he throws you out, then you are garbage. You think he belongs to you because you want to belong to him. Don't. It's a bad word, 'belong.' Especially when you put it with somebody you love. Love shouldn't be like that. Did you ever see the way the clouds love a mountain? They circle all around it; sometimes you can't even see the mountain for the clouds. But you know what? You go up top and what do you see? His head. The clouds never cover the head. His head pokes through, beacuse the clouds let him; they don't wrap him up. They let him keep his head up high, free, with nothing to hide him or bind him. You can't own a human being. You can't lose what you don't own. Suppose you did own him. Could you really love somebody who was absolutely nobody without you? You really want somebody like that? Somebody who falls apart when you walk out the door? You don't, do you? And neither does he. You're turning over your whole life to him. Your whole life, girl. And if it means so little to you that you can just give it away, hand it to him, then why should it mean any more to him? He can't value you more than you value yourself.
Toni Morrison
you-think-because-he-doesnt-love-you-that-you-are-worthless-you-think-that-because-he-doesnt-want-you-anymore-that-he-is-right-that-his-judgement-opinion-you-are-correct-if-he-th
love quotesworthless quotesanymore quotesjudgement quotesopinion quotescorrect quotesthrows quotesgarbage quotesbelongs quotesbelong quotesbad quotesword quotesbelong quotesput quoteslove quoteslove quotesclouds quotesmountain quotescircle quotesmountain quotesclouds quotestop quoteshead quotescover quoteshead quotespokes quotesbeacuse quoteswrap quoteshigh quotesfree quoteshide quotesbind quoteshuman quoteslose quotessuppose quotesabsolutely quotesfalls quoteswalk quotesdoor quotesturning quoteslife quoteslife quotesgirl quotesmeans quotesgive quoteshand quotes
she-is-friend-my-mind-she-gather-me-man-the-pieces-i-am-she-gather-them-give-them-back-to-me-in-all-right-order-toni-morrison
dont-ever-think-i-fell-for-you-fell-over-you-i-didnt-fall-in-love-i-rose-in-it-toni-morrison
Let me tell you about love, that silly word you believe is about whether you like somebody or whether somebody likes you or whether you can put up with somebody in order to get something or someplace you want or you believe it has to do with how your body responds to another body like robins or bison or maybe you believe love is how forces or nature or luck is benign to you in particular not maiming or killing you but if so doing it for your own good. Love is none of that. There is nothing in nature like it. Not in robins or bison or in the banging tails of your hunting dogs and not in blossoms or suckling foal. Love is divine only and difficult always. If you think it is easy you are a fool. If you think it is natural you are blind. It is a learned application without reason or motive except that it is God. You do not deserve love regardless of the suffering you have endured. You do not deserve love because somebody did you wrong. You do not deserve love just because you want it. You can only earn - by practice and careful contemplations - the right to express it and you have to learn how to accept it. Which is to say you have to earn God. You have to practice God. You have to think God-carefully. And if you are a good and diligent student you may secure the right to show love. Love is not a gift. It is a diploma. A diploma conferring certain privileges: the privilege of expressing love and the privilege of receiving it. How do you know you have graduated? You don't. What you do know is that you are human and therefore educable, and therefore capable of learning how to learn, and therefore interesting to God, who is interested only in Himself which is to say He is interested only in love. Do you understand me? God is not interested in you. He is interested in love and the bliss it brings to those who understand and share the interest. Couples that enter the sacrament of marriage and are not prepared to go the distance or are not willing to get right with the real love of God cannot thrive. They may cleave together like robins or gulls or anything else that mates for life. But if they eschew this mighty course, at the moment when all are judged for the disposition of their eternal lives, their cleaving won't mean a thing. God bless the pure and holy. Amen.
Toni Morrison
let-me-tell-you-about-love-that-silly-word-you-believe-is-about-whether-you-like-somebody-whether-somebody-likes-you-whether-you-can-put-up-with-somebody-in-order-to-get-somethin
love quotessilly quotesword quoteslikes quotesput quotesorder quotessomeplace quotesbody quotesresponds quotesrobins quotesbison quoteslove quotesforces quotesnature quotesluck quotesbenign quotesmaiming quoteskilling quotesgood quoteslove quotesbanging quotestails quoteshunting quotesdogs quotesblossoms quotessuckling quotesfoal quotesdivine quotesdifficult quoteseasy quotesfool quotesnatural quotesblind quoteslearned quotesapplication quotesreason quotesmotive quotesgod quotesdeserve quotessuffering quotesendured quoteswrong quotesearn quotespractice quotescareful quotescontemplations quotesexpress quoteslearn quotesaccept quotesgodcarefully quotesgood quotesdiligent quotesstudent quotessecure quotesshow quoteslove quotesgift quotesdiploma quotesdiploma quotesconferring quotesprivileges quotesprivilege quotesexpressing quotesreceiving quotesgraduated quoteshuman quoteseducable quotescapable quoteslearning quoteslearn quotesinteresting quotesgod quotesinterested quotesunderstand quotesgod quotesbliss quotesbrings quotesshare quotesinterest quotescouples quotesenter quotessacrament quotesmarriage quotesprepared quotesdistance quotesreal quotesthrive quotescleave quotesgulls quotesmates quoteslife quoteseschew quotesmighty quotesmoment quotesjudged quotesdisposition quoteseternal quoteslives quotescleaving quotesthing quotesbless quotespure quotesholy quotesamen quotes
You can't own a human being. You can't lose what you don't own. Suppose you did own him. Could you really love somebody who was absolutely nobody without you? You really want somebody like that? Somebody who falls apart when you walk out the door? You don't, do you? And neither does he. You're turning over your whole life to him. Your whole life, girl. And if it means so little to you that you can just give it away, hand it to him, then why should it mean any more to him? He can't value you more than you value yourself.
Toni Morrison
you-cant-own-human-being-you-cant-lose-what-you-dont-own-suppose-you-did-own-him-could-you-really-love-somebody-who-was-absolutely-nobody-without-you-you-really-want-somebody-lik
if-they-put-iron-circle-around-your-neck-i-will-bite-it-away-toni-morrison
I was talking about time. It`s so hard for me to believe in it. Some things go. Pass on. Some things just stay. I used to think it`s just my rememory. You know. Some things you forget. Other things you never do. But it`s not. [... ] What I remember is a picture floating around out there outside my head. I mean, even if I don`t think it, even if I die, the picture of what I did, or knew, or saw is still out there. [... ] Someday you be walking down the road and you hear something or see something going on. So clear. And you think it`s you thinking it up. A thought picture. But no. It`s when you bump into a rememory that belongs to somebody else.
Toni Morrison
i-was-talking-about-time-its-hard-for-me-to-believe-in-it-some-things-go-pass-on-some-things-just-stay-i-used-to-think-its-just-my-rememory-you-know-some-things-you-forget-other-
talking quotestime quotesit`s quoteshard quotesthings quotespass quotesstay quotesit`s quotesrememory quotesforget quotesremember quotespicture quotesfloating quoteshead quotesdon`t quotesdie quotesknew quotessomeday quoteswalking quotesroad quoteshear quotesclear quotesthinking quotesthought quotespicture quotesbump quotesrememory quotesbelongs quotes