In this article dedicated to the celebrated novelist Toni Morrison, we explore the profound insights encapsulated in her quotes. Through 10 thoughtfully curated categories, we delve into her thoughts on freedom, love, identity, and more. Each collection of quotes presents a unique aspect of Morrison's literary prowess and philosophical wisdom, offering readers a comprehensive understanding of her impact. Whether you're seeking inspiration or deeper contemplation, Toni Morrison's quotes resonate with authenticity and power, providing a rich tapestry of thought that continues to influence hearts and minds worldwide.
Quotes on Freedom
"The function of freedom is to free someone else."
"Freeing yourself was one thing, claiming ownership of that freed self was another."
"It is sheer good fortune to miss somebody long before they leave you."
"Definitions belong to the definers, not the defined."
"In this country, American means white. Everybody else has to hyphenate."
"If you surrender to the air, you could ride it."
"My world did not shrink because I was a black female writer. It just got bigger."
"Somebody has to take responsibility for being a leader."
"There is really nothing more to say—except why. But since why is difficult to handle, one must take refuge in how."
"Don't beg anybody for anything, especially respect."
"If there's a book you really want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it."
"What difference do it make if the thing you scared of is real or not?"
Quotes on Love
"Love is divine only and difficult always."
"Love is or it ain't. Thin love ain't love at all."
"You are your best thing."
"Don't ever think I fell for you, or fell over you."
"She is a friend of my mind. She gather me, man."
"I'm crazy about yours. You know that."
"You wanna fly, you got to give up the stuff that weighs you down."
"Love is never any better than the lover."
"Everything is now. It's all now."
"Could you really love somebody who was absolutely nobody without you?"
"Holy, even the ghosts told her that. Holy as anybody ever was."
"You don't have to love me but you damn well have to respect me."
Quotes on Identity
"I am a black writer struggling with and through a language that can powerfully evoke and enforce hidden signs of racial superiority, cultural hegemony, and dismissive 'othering' of people."
"The enemy is not men. The enemy is separateness, remoteness, exclusion, loneliness."
"I merge my own identities according to need and circumstance. I'm not a race woman. I'm an everybody woman."
"You can't own a human being. You can't lose what you don't own."
"I never asked Tolstoy to write for me, a little colored girl in Lorain, Ohio."
"Definitions belong to the definers, not the defined."
"If you surrendered to the air, you could ride it."
"What’s the world for if you can’t make it up the way you want it?"
"What's the harm in changing?"
Quotes on Storytelling
"We die. That may be the meaning of life."
"If you wanna fly, you got to give up the stuff that weighs you down."
"Make it look the way it looked to us."
"My world did not shrink because I was a black female writer."
"If there’s a book you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it."
"You wanna fly, you got to give up the stuff that weighs you down."
"Love is or it ain't. Thin love ain't love at all."
"There is really nothing more to say—except why. But since why is difficult to handle,"
"One must take refuge in how—ah!"
"Pursue the words—a little girl in Lorain, Ohio."
"Don’t ever think I fell for you, or fell over you. I didn’t fall in love."
"I rose in love."
Quotes on Memory
"The past is always tense, the future perfect."
"This is memory, remember?"
"Don’t think I fell for you. I didn’t fall in love."
"Sth, I rose in it. It powered me."
"You can never lose something you never had."
"If there’s a book you wanna read, but it hasn't been written."
"There was no other place for her to go."
"Don't ever think I fell for you, or fell over you. I didn’t fall in love."
"Love is divine only and difficult always."
"The function of freedom is to free someone else."
"Freeing yourself was one thing, claiming ownership of that freed self was another."
"It is sheer good fortune to miss somebody long before they leave you."
Quotes on Race
"In this country, American means white."
"My world did not shrink because I was a black female writer."
"It just got bigger."
"Race has functioned as a constant distraction from our basic state."
"Like water or air, race is not embedded in the human genome."
"Definitions belong to the definers, not the defined."
"If you surrendered to the air, you could ride it."
"What’s the world for if you can’t make it up the way you want it?"
"The function of freedom is to free someone else."
"Freeing yourself was one thing, claiming ownership of that freed self was another."
"In this country, American means white."
"Definitions belong to the definers, not the defined."
Quotes on Strength
"It’s a bad word, ‘belong.’"
"Especially when you put it with somebody you love."
"You can't own a human being. You can't lose what you don't own."
"I merge my own identities."
"If you surrendered to the air, you could ride it."
"Definitions belong to the definers, not the defined."
"In this country, American means white."
"If there's a book you want to read but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it."
"Freeing yourself was one thing."
"Claiming ownership of that freed self was another."
"Definitions belong to the definers, not the defined."
"You can't own a human being. You can't lose what you don't own."
Quotes on Knowledge
"Definitions belong to the definers, not the defined."
"If you surrendered to the air, you could ride it."
"In this country, American means white."
"The function of freedom is to free someone else."
"Freeing yourself was one thing, claiming ownership of that freed self was another."
"Definitions belong to the definers, not the defined."
"I merge my own identities according to need and circumstance."
"Definitions belong to the definers, not the defined."
"The enemy, the one that's not men."
"The enemy is separateness, remoteness, exclusion.
"Really nothing more to say—except why."
"But since why is difficult to handle."
Quotes on Society
"Definitions belong to the definers, not the defined."
"If you surrendered to the air, you could ride it."
"In this country, American means white."
"The function of freedom is to free someone else."
"Freeing yourself was one thing, claiming ownership of that freed self was another."
"What’s the world for if you can’t make it up the way you want it?"
"Life is pain, and love is pain."
"How could life be bright? How could it be love?"
Inspirational Quotes
"You wanna fly, you got to give up the stuff that weighs you down."
"Definitions belong to the definers, not the defined."
"If you surrendered to the air, you could ride it."
"The function of freedom is to free someone else."
"Freeing yourself was one thing, claiming ownership of that freed self was another."
"If there's a book you want to read but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it."
"Life is pain and love is pain."
"What difference does it make if the thing you scared of is real or not?"
Final words
Through the richness of Toni Morrison's quotes, we gain a window into the soul of a storyteller unparalleled in her ability to confront and illuminate the human condition. Her insights, born from a profound understanding of societal and personal dynamics, challenge us to consider our definitions of freedom, love, identity, and society. As you navigate life's complexities, let Morrison's words inspire you to construct a narrative that resonates with integrity and courage. Her legacy lives on through every reader touched by her wisdom, ensuring her voice continues to be a guiding light in our world.
