#activism

Each of us lives with a sword over his head. There are those who can ignore its shadow and those who cannot. Those who cannot are not necessarily better than those who can. But they are the creators of the special myth of their time, because any myth is the creation of the very few who cannot bear reality. ↗

— Murray Kempton

#activism-inspiration #american-history #ethics #myth #revolution

I learned early that crying out in protest could accomplish things. My older brothers and sister had started to school when, sometimes, they would come in and ask for a buttered biscuit or something and my mother, impatiently, would tell them no. But I would cry out and make a fuss until I got what I wanted. I remember well how my mother asked me why I couldn't be a nice boy like Wilfred; but I would think to myself that Wilfred, for being so nice and quiet, often stayed hungry. So early in life, I had learned that if you want something, you had better make some noise. ↗

— Malcolm X

#dissent #inspirational #protest #inspirational

Because it’s no longer enough to be a decent person. It’s no longer enough to shake our heads and make concerned grimaces at the news. True enlightened activism is the only thing that can save humanity from itself. ↗

— Joss Whedon

#enlightment #humanity #understanding #enlightenment

Every day I get better at knowing that it is not a choice to be an activist; rather, it is the only way to hold on to the better parts of my human self. It is the only way I can live and laugh without guilt. ↗

— Staceyann Chin

#guilt

Concerning non-violence: it is criminal to teach a man not to defend himself when he is the constant victim of brutal attacks. ↗

— Malcolm X

#non-violence #racism #revolution #racism

If you join the rat race — you're in the race of rats. ↗

— Bertolt Brecht

#activist #competitive #gender-stereotypes #stereotypes

We got it." Val grinned and lifted her fist. "Wonder twin powers activate!" Ruth grinned back, knocking her fist into Val's. "Shape of two fucking lunatics. ↗

— Holly Black

#faerie #holly #twins #valiant #activism

We Americans are interested only in the consumption of our products. We have no interest in how they are produced, or what happens to them once we discard them, once we throw them away. ↗

— M.T. Anderson

#activism

When you start to care, you can't stop. But the more you care, the more it burdens you. And you start asking yourself: is it even worth it? ↗

— Ahmed Al-Omran

#commitment #activism

I will act now. I will act now. I will act now. Henceforth, I will repeat these words each hour, each day, everyday, until the words become as much a habit as my breathing, and the action which follows becomes as instinctive as the blinking of my eyelids. With these words I can condition my mind to perform every action necessary for my success. I will act now. I will repeat these words again and again and again. I will walk where failures fear to walk. I will work when failures seek rest. I will act now for now is all I have. Tomorrow is the day reserved for the labor of the lazy. I am not lazy. Tomorrow is the day when the failure will succeed. I am not a failure. I will act now. Success will not wait. If I delay, success will become wed to another and lost to me forever. This is the time. This is the place. I am the person. ↗

— Og Mandino

#inertia #iniative #mantra #activism