Jesmyn Ward Quotes

Back in those days we thought we could change the world.

Speak out in acts; the time for words has passed, and only deeds will suffice.

Anyone who fights for the future, lives in it today.

At some point, Twitter hash tags are not enough. Eventually, you have to stand up.

Sometimes, you have to get angry to get things done.

You realize you can't change the world but it shouldn't stop you from trying.

I always feel compelled to lend my voice to things I strongly believe in.

You can't just sit around and make protest albums all your life; eventually it comes to the point where you have to do something.

What I'm asking for is hard. It's easier to be cynical; to accept that change isn't possible, and politics is hopeless, and to believe that our voices and actions don't matter. But if we give up now, then we forsake a better future.

I can't change the past, but one person can change the future - anything can happen.

If you don't speak out now when it matters, when would it matter for you to speak out?

Being an activist is about getting things done. It's not about standing around shaking your fist in anger.

I don't know if you can change things, but it's a drop in the ocean.

You have to have sharp elbows if you want to change something.

The one thing I witnessed over and over were these pretty young people who would throw themselves into a cause larger than themselves and believe they could change the world.

To sin by silence, when we should protest, Makes cowards out of men.

When I see something wrong, I speak up.

I refuse to be one of those people who watches injustices yet does nothing.

If people are not listening to you as individuals, it's always good to get together and make a stand for something.

I don't think just scaring people is enough. That worked during the freeze days to a major extent, but we really didn't achieve that much even at that time. You have to have more, you have to give people hope and a vision of a better world.

Fighting injustice keeps you young.

Better remain silent, better not even think, if you are not prepared to act.

If you want to be a real human being - a real woman, a real man - you cannot tolerate things which put you to indignation, to outrage. You must stand up. I always say to people, 'Look around; look at what makes you unhappy, what makes you furious, and then engage yourself in some action.'

I don't think there's much point in bemoaning the state of the world unless there's some way you can think of to improve it. Otherwise, don't bother writing a book; go and find a tropical island and lie in the sun.

My attitude is, do as much as I can while I'm free. And if I'm arrested I'll still do as much as I can.