Toni Morrison's most quoted lines (with the book or speech)
The top 3 according to 59 votes from people: If you find a book you really want to read but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it. · We die. That may be the meaning of life. But we do language. That may be the measure of our lives. · Freeing yourself was one thing; claiming ownership of that freed self was another.. (Updated Jul 20, 2020.)
The book you want to read that has not been written yet, definitions that belong to the definers and "We die. That may be the meaning of life. But we do language": the Toni Morrison quotes people share most, from Sula, Song of Solomon and Beloved to her Nobel Lecture, each with its source.
Top 16
-
1
If you find a book you really want to read but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it.
Talk at the Ohio Arts Council, Cincinnati (September 1981).
-
2
We die. That may be the meaning of life. But we do language. That may be the measure of our lives.
Nobel Lecture, 7 December 1993.
-
3
Freeing yourself was one thing; claiming ownership of that freed self was another.
Beloved (1987).
-
4
Writing to me is an advanced and slow form of reading.
Talk at the Ohio Arts Council, Cincinnati (September 1981).
-
5
Language alone protects us from the scariness of things with no names.
Nobel Lecture, 7 December 1993.
-
6
At some point in life the world's beauty becomes enough. You don't need to photograph, paint or even remember it. It is enough.
Tar Baby (1981).
-
7
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.
"A Humanist View", lecture at Portland State University (1975).
-
8
In this country American means white. Everybody else has to hyphenate.
The Guardian, 29 January 1992.
-
9
Which was what love was: unmotivated respect.
Paradise (1998).
-
10
If you surrendered to the air, you could ride it.
Song of Solomon (1977).
-
11
Anything dead coming back to life hurts.
Beloved (1987).
-
12
Definitions belonged to the definers — not the defined.
Beloved (1987).
-
13
You free. Nothing and nobody is obliged to save you but you.
Home (2012).
-
14
All water has a perfect memory and is forever trying to get back to where it was.
Quoted in Rita Dove, Grace Notes (1989).
-
15
Like any artist with no art form, she became dangerous.
Sula (1973).
-
16
Wanna fly, you got to give up the shit that weighs you down.
Song of Solomon (1977).
How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.
Is something missing?
Comments (0)
No comments yet. Be the first!