Audre Lorde Quotes

I want to be defined by my own essence.

I don't want to be identified by any one role I do.

I don't like defining myself. I just am.

Nobody else can tell you what you are.

The gender is irrelevant; the identity is the one you should try and create for yourself by yourself, and the narrative of your own life becomes your own book.

Now that I'm older, I understand that it's up to the individual to decide who they are or what they are.

I am what time, circumstance, history, have made of me, certainly, but I am also, much more than that. So are we all.

I can't give up my own identity.

Don't let anyone try to tell you who you are. Define yourself.

Others will always seek to define you based on what they think you represent or who they think you are. But you have to be the one to control what you do and what you say and how you present yourself.

I think the theme that I was attracted to in 'Beautiful Creatures' was you claim yourself. In my opinion, I think that's a really valid idea and I'm glad that that's our foundation.

Don't let others define you. You define yourself.

One creates oneself.

When you don't inherit an identity you have to define it on your own.

Those of us who submitted or surrendered our ideas and dreams and identities to the 'leaders' must take back our rights, our identities, our responsibilities.

I think I've claimed the right to be any version of me that I want to be.

I've never allowed my political life, or my life as a basketball player, to define the totality of my humanity or my personality.

I never was a person who let people who have their ideas and their expectations of me dictate who I became.

I love tennis. But even if I become the greatest of all time, I still don't only want to be defined by tennis. I'm my own person. And I want to be remembered as I really am.

I think there's always a conflict within me about being comfortable and secure and then being an individual and fighting for what I want to be on an individual basis.

As a southern woman, we often define ourselves by who we are with. But I wanted my life to be built differently.

I am who I am. I do what I do.

You choose who you want to be.

I have lived life enough to know that I define myself.

Never let anyone define you. You are the only person who defines you. No one can speak for you. Only you speak for you. You are your only voice.