Time and again I, too, have felt so full of luminous…
““Time and again I, too, have felt so full of luminous torrents that I could burst - burst with forms much more beautiful than those which are put up in frames and sold for a stinking fortune. And I, too, said nothing, showed nothing; I didn't open my mouth, I didn't repaint my half of the world. I was ashamed. I was afraid, and I swallowed my shame and my fear. I said to myself: You are mad! What's the meaning of these waves, these floods, these outbursts? Where is the ebullient, infinite woman who, immersed as she was in her naiveté, kept in the dark about herself, led into self-disdain by the great arm of parental-conjugal phallocentrism, hasn't been ashamed of her strength? Who, surprised and horrified by the fantastic tumult of her drives (for she was made to believe that a well-adjusted normal woman has a ... divine composure), hasn't accused herself of being a monster? Who, feeling a funny desire stirring inside her (to sing, to write, to dare to speak, in short, to bring out something new), hasn't thought she was sick? Well, her shameful sickness is that she resists death, that she makes trouble.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The passage explores the conflict between creative impulse and societal repression, highlighting shame, fear, and the struggle for authentic self‑expression.
In simple terms: Creative urges clash with social constraints, causing shame and fear.
Key Takeaway
Embrace your inner voice despite external pressures.
Themes
creativity
identity
oppression
Mood
introspective
critical
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- artistic creation
- writing
- public speaking
- personal healing
Key Concepts
feminist theory
psychology
self‑expression
Questions to Reflect On
- How does shame silence your creativity?
- What steps can you take to voice your inner truths?
A Different Perspective
Societal norms may still suppress expression; change can be slow.