--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We have too often been expected to speak…" description: "\"We have too often been expected to speak all things to all people and speak everyone else's position but our own.\" — Audre Lorde" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9cf/audre-lorde-758_all-things_we-have-too-often-been-expected-to-speak_2701490.jpg" --- # We have too often been expected to speak all things to all… ![“We have too often been expected to speak all things to all people and speak everyone else's position but our own.” quote by Audre Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9cf/audre-lorde-758_all-things_we-have-too-often-been-expected-to-speak_2701490.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9cf/audre-lorde-758_all-things_we-have-too-often-been-expected-to-speak_2701490.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9cf/audre-lorde-758_all-things_we-have-too-often-been-expected-to-speak_2701490.jpg) > “We have too often been expected to speak all things to all people and speak everyone else's position but our own.” [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. Lorde critiques the expectation for marginalized voices to represent all perspectives, silencing individuality. **In simple terms:** People expect one voice to speak for many. Key Takeaway Speak your own truth, not others’. Themes identity representation voice Mood empowering defiant Type political inspirational When to use this quote - activism - media interviews - community meetings - personal storytelling Key Concepts feminist theory intersectionality communication Questions to Reflect On - How can we balance personal voice with collective advocacy? - When is it appropriate to speak for others? A Different Perspective The critique may overlook the need for coalition building. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [Keeping silent when you are expected to speak, is powerful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florah/keeping-silent-when-you-are-expected-to-speak-is-powerful/) [Florah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florah/) > [I have to concentrate more intently when people speak. I always have to position myself on their right side so that I can hear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-beacham/i-have-to-concentrate-more-intently-when-people-speak-i-always-have/) [Stephanie Beacham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-beacham/) > [When people get to speak about themselves and the things that matter to them, on their own terms, we see them as who they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-maddow/when-people-get-to-speak-about-themselves-and-the-things-that-matter/) [Rachel Maddow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-maddow/) > [One must speak about serious things seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/one-must-speak-about-serious-things-seriously/) [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) > [Obviously, people in the media speak a lot when things aren't going right, but we as players do communicate with each other. Maybe it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-iwobi/obviously-people-in-the-media-speak-a-lot-when-things-aren-t-going/) [Alex Iwobi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-iwobi/) > [“For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. —Acts 4:20 NKJV”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brenda-jackson/for-we-cannot-but-speak-the-things-which-we-have-seen-and-heard-acts/) [Brenda Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brenda-jackson/) > [I'm ready for the opportunity to speak about things. I've always dreamed about the opportunity to speak about stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetrius-shipp-jr/i-m-ready-for-the-opportunity-to-speak-about-things-i-ve-always/) [Demetrius Shipp, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetrius-shipp-jr/) > [I don't pretend to know everything; I just only speak on things I know, and what I've been through REALSHIT OGTHEREALEST RT RETWEET](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/og-the-realest/i-don-t-pretend-to-know-everything-i-just-only-speak-on-things-i-know/) Og The Realest > [One must not speak of such things. One is still scarred from that experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecelia-ahern/one-must-not-speak-of-such-things-one-is-still-scarred-from-that/) [Cecelia Ahern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecelia-ahern/) > [Listen carefully. 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Scene to scene \[in the Swiss army… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dano/i-think-there-was-a-lot-of-working-out-the-arc-of-how-manny-daniel/) [Paul Dano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dano/) > [“Weigh whatever you are about to say; what will it do to your hearer - encouragement, edification, disappointment or fear? What will it do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaachynma-n-e-agu/weigh-whatever-you-are-about-to-say-what-will-it-do-to-your-hearer/) [Jaachynma N.E. Agu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaachynma-n-e-agu/) > [I do have a mouth - I will say. 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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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