[Speaking] is never without fear; of visibility, of the harsh light of scrutiny and perhaps judgment, of pain, of death. But we have lived through all of those already, in silence, except death. And I remind myself all the time now, that if I were to have been born mute, and had maintained an oath of silence my whole life for safety, I would still have suffered, and I would still die.
Audre Lorde (1997). “The Cancer Journals”
![[Speaking] is never without fear; of visibility, of the harsh light of scrutiny and perhaps judgment, of pain, of death. But we have lived through all of those already, in silence, except death. And I remind myself all](http://cdn.quoteddaily.com/images/audre-lorde/speaking-is-never-without-fear-of-visibility-of-the-harsh-light-of-scrutiny-and-perhaps-judgment-of-pain-of-death.jpg)