---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I find I am constantly being encouraged…"
description: "\"I find I am constantly being encouraged to pluck out some one aspect of myself and present this as the meaningful whole, eclipsing or denying the other..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/163/audre-lorde-758_aspect_i-find-i-am-constantly-being-encouraged_1964174.jpg"
---

#  I find I am constantly being encouraged to pluck out some…

![“I find I am constantly being encouraged to pluck out some one aspect of myself and present this as the meaningful whole, eclipsing or denying the other parts of self.” quote by Audre Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/163/audre-lorde-758_aspect_i-find-i-am-constantly-being-encouraged_1964174.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/163/audre-lorde-758_aspect_i-find-i-am-constantly-being-encouraged_1964174.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/163/audre-lorde-758_aspect_i-find-i-am-constantly-being-encouraged_1964174.jpg)

> “I find I am constantly being encouraged to pluck out some one aspect of myself and present this as the meaningful whole, eclipsing or denying the other parts of self.”

[Audre Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audre-lorde/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The quote critiques the pressure to present a single, polished identity, urging acceptance of a complex, multifaceted self.

**In simple terms:** Avoid forcing a single identity; embrace all parts.

Key Takeaway

Embrace your whole self.

Themes

identity authenticity self‑acceptance

Mood

thoughtful empowering

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- personal branding
- therapy
- creative work
- community activism

Key Concepts

intersectionality self‑expression wholeness

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you honor each aspect of yourself?
- What risks arise from presenting a unified front?

A Different Perspective

Simplifying self can be socially easier.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) [Meaningful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meaningful/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/)

## Related quotes

> [I think it is important to surround myself with artists who share the same goals and aspirations. This way, I am constantly encouraged to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravyn-lenae/i-think-it-is-important-to-surround-myself-with-artists-who-share-the/)

[Ravyn Lenae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravyn-lenae/)

> [“the police are only doing what they were trained to do, and what they are constantly encouraged to do by the courts.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-duane/the-police-are-only-doing-what-they-were-trained-to-do-and-what-they/)

[James Duane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-duane/)

> [As a Black lesbian feminist comfortable with the many different ingredients of my identity, and a woman committed to racial and sexual freedom from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audre-lorde/as-a-black-lesbian-feminist-comfortable-with-the-many-different/)

[Audre Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audre-lorde/)

> [“As a child, a teen, a young adult, I developed a firm belief in my solitude, the not-novel concept that we are each alone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piper-kerman/as-a-child-a-teen-a-young-adult-i-developed-a-firm-belief-in-my/)

[Piper Kerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piper-kerman/)

> [“Who do you imagine you are? Imagine there's a version of you that sees all of it. A version that knows when versions are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-yu/who-do-you-imagine-you-are-imagine-there-s-a-version-of-you-that-sees/)

[Charles Yu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-yu/)

> [“A child is a part of the self, and of the loved partner; a representation of generations past; the genes of the forebears; the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beverly-raphael/a-child-is-a-part-of-the-self-and-of-the-loved-partner-a/)

Beverly Raphael

> [Identity has several parts, and the self needs to expand. Black youth should be encouraged to have as many parts or as rich an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darryl-pinckney/identity-has-several-parts-and-the-self-needs-to-expand-black-youth/)

[Darryl Pinckney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darryl-pinckney/)

> [Polly was pretty good at dieting, all right, but she was beginning to wonder whether you ever lost the parts of your self that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-brashares/polly-was-pretty-good-at-dieting-all-right-but-she-was-beginning-to/)

[Ann Brashares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-brashares/)

> [As we come to know, accept, and explore our feelings, they will become sanctuaries and fortresses and spawning grounds for the most radical and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audre-lorde/as-we-come-to-know-accept-and-explore-our-feelings-they-will-become/)

[Audre Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audre-lorde/)

> [Patrons, don't berate bouncers for denying you entry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-evans/patrons-don-t-berate-bouncers-for-denying-you-entry/)

[Sean Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-evans/)

> [I'm not selling out, denying who I am or where I've come from, not at all. I acknowledge that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-iglesias/i-m-not-selling-out-denying-who-i-am-or-where-i-ve-come-from-not-at/)

[Gabriel Iglesias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriel-iglesias/)

> [I am quite a romantic person, really, and I should have put that into my music earlier, but I was probably denying it... I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-idol/i-am-quite-a-romantic-person-really-and-i-should-have-put-that-into/)

[Billy Idol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-idol/)

> [As far as implying that we know what we're doing, that we have perspective enough - by diving fully into something it requires a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-oldham/as-far-as-implying-that-we-know-what-we-re-doing-that-we-have/)

[Will Oldham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-oldham/)

> [That's good; don't deny it. Denying the undeniable just makes you sound like a fool as well as a liar. In this profession, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-carter/that-s-good-don-t-deny-it-denying-the-undeniable-just-makes-you-sound/)

[Ally Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-carter/)

> [A mistake doesnt make you a fool, but denying it surely makes you one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/a-mistake-doesnt-make-you-a-fool-but-denying-it-surely-makes-you-one/)

[Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/)

## More by Audre Lorde

> [Every woman I have ever loved has left her print upon me, where I loved some invaluable piece of myself apart from me-so different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audre-lorde/every-woman-i-have-ever-loved-has-left-her-print-upon-me-where-i/)

[Audre Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audre-lorde/)

> [There are many kinds of open. . . Love is a word, another kind of open. . . Take my word for jewel in your open light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audre-lorde/there-are-many-kinds-of-open-love-is-a-word-another-kind-of-open-take/)

[Audre Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audre-lorde/)

> [Your silence will not protect you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audre-lorde/your-silence-will-not-protect-you/)

[Audre Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audre-lorde/)

> [I can't really define it in sexual terms alone although our sexuality is so energizing why not enjoy it too?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audre-lorde/i-can-t-really-define-it-in-sexual-terms-alone-although-our-sexuality/)

[Audre Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audre-lorde/)

> [“For once we begin to feel deeply all the aspects of our lives, we begin to demand from ourselves and from our life-pursuits that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audre-lorde/for-once-we-begin-to-feel-deeply-all-the-aspects-of-our-lives-we/)

[Audre Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audre-lorde/)

> [the fear of death is that you are dying too soon. Nobody wants to, but at the point that you die you can pray…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audre-lorde/the-fear-of-death-is-that-you-are-dying-too-soon-nobody-wants-to-but/)

[Audre Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audre-lorde/)

> [“There is an important difference between openness and naïveté. Not everyone has good intentions nor means me well. I remind myself I do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audre-lorde/there-is-an-important-difference-between-openness-and-na-vet-not/)

[Audre Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audre-lorde/)

> [What are the words you do not yet have? What do you need to say? What are the tyrannies you swallow day by day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audre-lorde/what-are-the-words-you-do-not-yet-have-what-do-you-need-to-say-what/)

[Audre Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audre-lorde/)

> [I learned to read from Mrs. Augusta Baker, the children's librarian. ... If that was the only good deed that lady ever did in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audre-lorde/i-learned-to-read-from-mrs-augusta-baker-the-children-s-librarian-if/)

[Audre Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audre-lorde/)

> [Poetry is not only dream and vision; it is the skeleton architecture of our lives. It lays the foundations for a future of change,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audre-lorde/poetry-is-not-only-dream-and-vision-it-is-the-skeleton-architecture/)

[Audre Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audre-lorde/)

> [“I think that in America there are certain kinds of problems and in Russia there are certain kinds of problems, but basically, when you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audre-lorde/i-think-that-in-america-there-are-certain-kinds-of-problems-and-in/)

[Audre Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audre-lorde/)

> [Institutionalized rejection of differences is an absolute necessity in a profit economy which needs outsiders as surplus people. As members of such an economy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audre-lorde/institutionalized-rejection-of-differences-is-an-absolute-necessity/)

[Audre Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audre-lorde/)

> [The sharing of joy, whether physical, emotional, psychic, or intellectual, forms a bridge between the sharers which can be the basis for understanding much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audre-lorde/the-sharing-of-joy-whether-physical-emotional-psychic-or-intellectual/)

[Audre Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audre-lorde/)

> [“I forgot what we were celebrating. Because we were always celebrating something, a new job, a new poem, a new love, a new dream.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audre-lorde/i-forgot-what-we-were-celebrating-because-we-were-always-celebrating/)

[Audre Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audre-lorde/)

> [How a diamond comes into a knot of flame How a sound comes into a word, coloured By who pays what for speaking. Some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audre-lorde/how-a-diamond-comes-into-a-knot-of-flame-how-a-sound-comes-into-a/)

[Audre Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audre-lorde/)

[Explore all 377 Audre Lorde quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audre-lorde/)

## More Aspect quotes

> [Why is wisdom so fair? Why is beauty so wise? Because all else is temporary, while beauty and wisdom are the only real and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-nazarian/why-is-wisdom-so-fair-why-is-beauty-so-wise-because-all-else-is/)

[Vera Nazarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-nazarian/)

> [It is according to the shapes that I lay the plans for victory, but the multitude does not comprehend this. Although everyone can see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/it-is-according-to-the-shapes-that-i-lay-the-plans-for-victory-but/)

[Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/)

> [I believe that simple, consistent shifts in our thinking and actions can lead to the miraculous in all aspects of our daily lives, including…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-bernstein/i-believe-that-simple-consistent-shifts-in-our-thinking-and-actions/)

[Gabrielle Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-bernstein/)

> [There is so much temptation to hold on to my career even more now. To try to micromanage and dictate every little aspect. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-lin/there-is-so-much-temptation-to-hold-on-to-my-career-even-more-now-to/)

[Jeremy Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-lin/)

> [I do miss the social aspect of sitting in a pub with a pint but you know what when I get down to it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ozzy-osbourne/i-do-miss-the-social-aspect-of-sitting-in-a-pub-with-a-pint-but-you/)

[Ozzy Osbourne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ozzy-osbourne/)

> [Some say that you should not want money at all because the desire for money is materialistic and not Spiritual. But we want you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-hicks/some-say-that-you-should-not-want-money-at-all-because-the-desire-for/)

[Esther Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-hicks/)

> [Death is but an aspect of life, and the destruction of one material form is but a prelude to building up of another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/death-is-but-an-aspect-of-life-and-the-destruction-of-one-material/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I would call myself a Gnostic. Which means, I'm interested in pursuing and understanding the spiritual nature of things. A Gnostic is somebody seeking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-crumb/i-would-call-myself-a-gnostic-which-means-i-m-interested-in-pursuing/)

[Robert Crumb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-crumb/)

> [One can be a great artist without being a great technician. There have been many famous ballet stars who did not have the ideal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-bujones/one-can-be-a-great-artist-without-being-a-great-technician-there-have/)

Fernando Bujones

> [I love fall because I love the whole cuddling aspect of it, and a sweater dress has that vibe of I'm going to hunker…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-chastain/i-love-fall-because-i-love-the-whole-cuddling-aspect-of-it-and-a/)

[Jessica Chastain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-chastain/)

> [The socially redeeming aspect of golf lies in the vast number of lawyers and bankers and managers who play it, and when you think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/the-socially-redeeming-aspect-of-golf-lies-in-the-vast-number-of/)

[Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/)

> [I didnt like the Survivor shows because of the mean-spirited aspect, and women certainly were part of whatever conflict they would create.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-lawrence/i-didnt-like-the-survivor-shows-because-of-the-mean-spirited-aspect/)

[Sharon Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-lawrence/)

> [MAC allowed me to have complete freedom on the collaborations—from the shades, the look-and-feel, to the campaign visuals. I have to admit that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-treacy/mac-allowed-me-to-have-complete-freedom-on-the-collaborations-from/)

[Philip Treacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-treacy/)

> [I mean family is more important than anything in life. Family is important than my crew, D-Block, my rap career anything... It's the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/styles-p/i-mean-family-is-more-important-than-anything-in-life-family-is/)

[Styles P](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/styles-p/)

> [Wealth is measured by the level of experience in all aspects of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/wealth-is-measured-by-the-level-of-experience-in-all-aspects-of-life/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

Browse all 3,171 Aspect quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I find I am constantly being encouraged to pluck out some one aspect of myself and present this as the meaningful whole, eclipsing or denying the other parts of self.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Audre Lorde"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audre-lorde/i-find-i-am-constantly-being-encouraged-to-pluck-out-some-one-aspect/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Aspect"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audre-lorde/i-find-i-am-constantly-being-encouraged-to-pluck-out-some-one-aspect/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/163/audre-lorde-758_aspect_i-find-i-am-constantly-being-encouraged_1964174.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/163/audre-lorde-758_aspect_i-find-i-am-constantly-being-encouraged_1964174.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/163/audre-lorde-758_aspect_i-find-i-am-constantly-being-encouraged_1964174.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I find I am constantly being encouraged to pluck out some one aspect of myself and present this as the…” — Audre Lorde",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Audre Lorde",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audre-lorde/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I find I am constantly being...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audre-lorde/i-find-i-am-constantly-being-encouraged-to-pluck-out-some-one-aspect/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audre-lorde/i-find-i-am-constantly-being-encouraged-to-pluck-out-some-one-aspect/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
