Jamaica Kincaid Quotes

Women have got to stop being polite. If I ever had children, which I don't, the first thing I'd teach a girl of mine is the words 'f - off.'

Feel empowered. And if you start to do it, if you start to feel your voice heard, you will never go back.

You can reclaim your own narrative.

The more you claim your own destiny, the easier it will be to love unconditionally .

Whereas before I was a young, blonde girl who would do what she was told. I know who I am as a person and I'm getting damn strong.

I know by now you think I should have straightened myself out - Thank you, drop dead!

Anybody intelligent enough to realize what America is, is not going to sit around and do nothing about it. They're going to be the same way that I am. They're going to be the same way our fans are. They're going to be pissed.

I want to reclaim who I am.

Stay strong. Stand up. Have a voice.

The greatest joy is to transform one’s feelings into action.

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 wish when I was 15 that I realized my voice was important and that even my thoughts and my opinions had value. Had I known, I probably would've spoken up more. I probably would've found my activism sooner and become a writer sooner.

If I can, in any way, give people the courage to say, 'Actually, no, the nonsense stops right here,' then I want to be a part of doing that. Especially if that means that our folks will be more free.

I am no longer content to be the scared, obedient schoolgirl. Who are you, a stranger, to tell me what I can and cannot do?

The most important point is to accept yourself and stand on your two feet.

Henceforward, I shout to the heavens, I shall deliver no more lectures on behalf of good causes: I am the good cause that denies the need for such lectures. Avaunt, importuning world! Back to my cell.

Too many girls follow the line of least resistance, but a good line is hard to resist.

Nothing I accept about myself can be used against me to diminish me.

We are too ready (women especially) not to stand by what we have said or done.

Don't be a leaf... Be a tree!

This was the first place I everfelt strong. Every time I breathe this air I feel it again.

Believe in yourself and negotiate for yourself. Own your own success.

I'm not a victim. And the people who are victims of something, my heart is completely with them. But I'm not. I know I've been treated like a woman in this business [acting]. I mean I've got lots of stories, but they don't have any control over me.

Putting on your crown is really like accepting the fact that you are a queen. You're a great woman. Wherever you are in life, just keep on that path, and so for me, sometimes as women, we forget - we forget that about ourselves. So, putting on your crown is sort of reminding yourself that, hey, I'm a queen, and I can do what I want in this life and take it.

I'm interested when people will stand up for themselves. I'm always interested in that moment when someone decides it's not good enough, and even though it's painful, they're willing to make a change.