--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Once you start to speak, people will yell…" description: "\"“Once you start to speak, people will yell at you. They will interrupt you, put you down and suggest it’s personal. And the world won’t end. And the sp..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/40a/audre-lorde-758_quote_once-you-start-to-speak-people-will-yell_2238672.jpg" --- # Once you start to speak, people will yell at you. They… ![“Once you start to speak, people will yell at you. They will interrupt you, put you down and suggest it’s personal. And the world won’t end. And the speaking will get easier and easier. And you will find you have fallen in love with your own vision, which you may never have realized you had. And…” quote by Audre Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/40a/audre-lorde-758_quote_once-you-start-to-speak-people-will-yell_2238672.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/40a/audre-lorde-758_quote_once-you-start-to-speak-people-will-yell_2238672.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/40a/audre-lorde-758_quote_once-you-start-to-speak-people-will-yell_2238672.jpg) > ““Once you start to speak, people will yell at you. They will interrupt you, put you down and suggest it’s personal. And the world won’t end. And the speaking will get easier and easier. And you will find you have fallen in love with your own vision, which you may never have realized you had. And you will lose some friends and lovers, and realize you don’t miss them. And new ones will find you and cherish you. And you will still flirt and paint your nails, dress up and party, because, as I think Emma Goldman said, “If I can’t dance, I don’t want to be part of your revolution.” And at last you’ll know with surpassing certainty that only one thing is more frightening than speaking your truth. And that is not speaking.”” [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. Speaking truth invites resistance but also personal growth, connection, and empowerment despite loss. **In simple terms:** Speaking truth brings challenges and rewards. Key Takeaway Speak your truth despite fear. Themes courage self‑expression community Mood determined hopeful Type inspirational motivational When to use this quote - public speaking - activism - friendship - self‑care - artistic work Key Concepts personal empowerment social change Questions to Reflect On - What fears hold you back from speaking? - How can you nurture supportive relationships? A Different Perspective Not everyone will support you; speaking can alienate. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Friends And Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friends-and-love/) ## Related quotes > [“I was going to die, sooner or later, whether or not I had even spoken myself. My silences had not protected me. Your silences…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audre-lorde/i-was-going-to-die-sooner-or-later-whether-or-not-i-had-even-spoken/) [Audre Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audre-lorde/) > [The speaking will get easier and easier. 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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. 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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 Speaking quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [Professionally speaking, the proudest moment was when I booked the 'Human Stain.' I knew it had Nicole Kidman, Anthony Hopkins, Ed Harris and Gary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wentworth-miller/professionally-speaking-the-proudest-moment-was-when-i-booked-the/) [Wentworth Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wentworth-miller/) > [“Why do we apologize for advocating for ourselves? Why do we apologize for taking up space that we are entitled to? Why do we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-tambascio/why-do-we-apologize-for-advocating-for-ourselves-why-do-we-apologize/) Elizabeth Tambascio > [“I am amazed at how being with him changes everything for me, socially speaking.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-hand/i-am-amazed-at-how-being-with-him-changes-everything-for-me-socially/) [Cynthia Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-hand/) > [Using a broad brushstroke, I think Libertarian - most of America are socially accepting and fiscally responsible. I'm in that category. I think, broadly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/using-a-broad-brushstroke-i-think-libertarian-most-of-america-are/) [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) > [My mom. Growing up with her, she always taught us to say whatever. Like, 'You think something, say it. Don't bite your tongue for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/draymond-green/my-mom-growing-up-with-her-she-always-taught-us-to-say-whatever-like/) [Draymond Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/draymond-green/) > [I'm a writer and I also do a lot of professional speaking on risk taking and creativity as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gurstelle/i-m-a-writer-and-i-also-do-a-lot-of-professional-speaking-on-risk/) [William Gurstelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gurstelle/) > [“Stick your tongue to your brains before speaking !”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manos-abou-chabke/stick-your-tongue-to-your-brains-before-speaking/) [Manos Abou Chabke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manos-abou-chabke/) > [I have the Cuban gene of speaking very loudly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/i-have-the-cuban-gene-of-speaking-very-loudly/) [Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/) > [For me, speaking my mind is a big part of my life, and I encourage other people to do that as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-marie/for-me-speaking-my-mind-is-a-big-part-of-my-life-and-i-encourage/) [Anne-Marie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-marie/) > [The upshot here is that Gil Scott-Heron is still a warrior, even if the front lines have moved. 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