--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: She wanted me to remember that pleasure…" description: "\"“She wanted me to remember that pleasure is political--for the capacity to relax and play renews the spirit and makes it possible for us to come to the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/00d/bell-hooks-464_play_she-wanted-me-to-remember-that-pleasure_2127527.jpg" --- # She wanted me to remember that pleasure is political--for… ![“She wanted me to remember that pleasure is political--for the capacity to relax and play renews the spirit and makes it possible for us to come to the work of writing clearer, ready for the journey. (bell hooks about Toni Cade Bambara)” quote by Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/00d/bell-hooks-464_play_she-wanted-me-to-remember-that-pleasure_2127527.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/00d/bell-hooks-464_play_she-wanted-me-to-remember-that-pleasure_2127527.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/00d/bell-hooks-464_play_she-wanted-me-to-remember-that-pleasure_2127527.jpg) > ““She wanted me to remember that pleasure is political--for the capacity to relax and play renews the spirit and makes it possible for us to come to the work of writing clearer, ready for the journey. (bell hooks about Toni Cade Bambara)”” [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Pleasure and play are political acts that restore spirit, enabling clearer writing and purposeful work. **In simple terms:** Relaxation fuels creativity and political awareness. Key Takeaway Incorporate play to sustain creative work. Themes politics creativity wellbeing Mood reflective inspired Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - artist retreats - writing workshops - daily mindfulness - community gatherings Key Concepts embodiment political agency self‑care Questions to Reflect On - How does leisure influence your political perspective? - What practices help you integrate play into work? A Different Perspective Play may be dismissed as frivolous, limiting its perceived value. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bell-hooks/) [Hooks Toni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hooks-toni-4369616/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Pleasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pleasure/) [Pleasure Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pleasure-political-2830749/) [Remember](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remember/) [Remember Pleasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remember-pleasure-4369615/) [Wanted Remember](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted-remember-249001/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [It is with great pleasure that I see the political system of almost every power in Europe changing in our favor since the news…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-paul-jones/it-is-with-great-pleasure-that-i-see-the-political-system-of-almost/) [John Paul Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-paul-jones/) > [When the feminist movement was at its zenith in the late 60's and early 70's, there was a lot of moving away from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/when-the-feminist-movement-was-at-its-zenith-in-the-late-60-s-and/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [“I was a young girl buying bubble gum at the corner store when I first really heard the full name bell hooks. I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/i-was-a-young-girl-buying-bubble-gum-at-the-corner-store-when-i-first/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [“Life-transforming ideas have always come to me through books.” - Bell Hooks”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/win-quier/life-transforming-ideas-have-always-come-to-me-through-books-bell/) [Win Quier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/win-quier/) > [I'm terrified of saying the wrong thing on stage with bell hooks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laverne-cox/i-m-terrified-of-saying-the-wrong-thing-on-stage-with-bell-hooks/) [Laverne Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laverne-cox/) > [“...I learned the power of identity--the idea that even an uneducated woman, like myself, who hadn't read Mary Wollstonecraft or bell hooks, could be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-dawn/i-learned-the-power-of-identity-the-idea-that-even-an-uneducated/) [Amber Dawn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-dawn/) > [“I will not have my life narrowed down. I will not bow down to somebody else's whim or to someone else's ignorance.” -bell hooks”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trista-hendren/i-will-not-have-my-life-narrowed-down-i-will-not-bow-down-to-somebody-2/) [Trista Hendren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trista-hendren/) > [I am passionate about everything in my life--first and foremost, passionate about ideas. And that's a dangerous person to be in this society, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-am-passionate-about-everything-in-my-life-first-and-foremost/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I read everything and anything related to being queer. I found solace in reading authors like Audre Lorde and bell hooks, who would become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrisse-cullors/i-read-everything-and-anything-related-to-being-queer-i-found-solace/) [Patrisse Cullors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrisse-cullors/) > [People review my comic books. 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A great deal of the critique of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ta-nehisi-coates/people-review-my-comic-books-people-review-every-article-i-write-the/) [Ta-Nehisi Coates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ta-nehisi-coates/) > [I was influenced growing up by everything from Harlequin romances to Fedor Dostoyevsky and Albert Camus, James Baldwin, Toni Morrison, and later Lydia Davis,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danzy-senna/i-was-influenced-growing-up-by-everything-from-harlequin-romances-to/) [Danzy Senna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danzy-senna/) > [The biggest thinker that's influenced my feminism is definitely Bell Hooks, who's a feminist cultural critic, because of her accessibility but also just because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-valenti/the-biggest-thinker-that-s-influenced-my-feminism-is-definitely-bell/) [Jessica Valenti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-valenti/) > [“Read everything you can push into your skull. Read your mother’s diary. Read Assata. Read everything Gloria Steinem and bell hooks write. Read all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabby-rivera/read-everything-you-can-push-into-your-skull-read-your-mother-s-diary/) [Gabby Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabby-rivera/) > [When I started blogging in 2004, I responded to every comment no matter how nasty the reader was. I was generally polite, believing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-valenti/when-i-started-blogging-in-2004-i-responded-to-every-comment-no/) [Jessica Valenti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-valenti/) > [“The feminist philosophy that has shaped my thinking has been articulated most clearly by Marilyn Frye;67 Catharine MacKinnon68 has been influential in my understanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jensen/the-feminist-philosophy-that-has-shaped-my-thinking-has-been/) [Robert Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jensen/) ## More by Bell Hooks > [Right now, for many Americans, class is being foregrounded like never before because of the economic situation. It doesn't mean that race doesn't matter,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/right-now-for-many-americans-class-is-being-foregrounded-like-never/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [“Most folks believe we are hardwired biologically to long for sex but they do not believe we are hardwired to long for love. Almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/most-folks-believe-we-are-hardwired-biologically-to-long-for-sex-but/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [... we need to interrogate "reverence," for idolization can be another way one is objectified and not really taken seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/we-need-to-interrogate-reverence-for-idolization-can-be-another-way/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [Couples who rarely or never have sex can know lifelong love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/couples-who-rarely-or-never-have-sex-can-know-lifelong-love/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [The power of patriarchy has been to make maleness feared and to make men feel that it is better to be feared that to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/the-power-of-patriarchy-has-been-to-make-maleness-feared-and-to-make/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [“I feel enormously blessed to be a successful black woman writer in this culture, but I have found my small fame, such as it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/i-feel-enormously-blessed-to-be-a-successful-black-woman-writer-in/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [Language is also a place of struggle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/language-is-also-a-place-of-struggle/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [In this culture, the phrase 'black woman' is not synonymous with 'tender,' or 'gentle.' It's as if those words couldn't possibly speak to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/in-this-culture-the-phrase-black-woman-is-not-synonymous-with-tender/) [bell hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [It's interesting to look at all the aspects where everyday Americans, many of whom are not college educated, are thinking deeply now about our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/it-s-interesting-to-look-at-all-the-aspects-where-everyday-americans/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [The true teacher is within us. A good teacher is someone who can help you to go back and touch the true teacher within,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/the-true-teacher-is-within-us-a-good-teacher-is-someone-who-can-help/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [“Advancing the notion that there can be many "feminisms" has served the conservative and liberal political interests of women seeking status and privileged class…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/advancing-the-notion-that-there-can-be-many-feminisms-has-served-the/) [bell hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [I love my family, even as I critique their dysfunctionalities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/i-love-my-family-even-as-i-critique-their-dysfunctionalities/) [bell hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [You must have courage to love, you have to have a profound will to do what is right to love, and it does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/you-must-have-courage-to-love-you-have-to-have-a-profound-will-to-do/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [To truly love we must learn to mix various ingredients - care, affection, recognition, respect, commitment, and trust, as well as honest and open…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/to-truly-love-we-must-learn-to-mix-various-ingredients-care-affection/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [“Often emphasis on identity and lifestyle is appealing because it creates a false sense that one is engaged in praxis. However, praxis within any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/often-emphasis-on-identity-and-lifestyle-is-appealing-because-it/) [bell hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) [Explore all 541 Bell Hooks quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) ## More Play quotes > [There are guys who play lacrosse, and there are lacrosse players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-mundorf/there-are-guys-who-play-lacrosse-and-there-are-lacrosse-players/) [Brendan Mundorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-mundorf/) > [You gotta have a little kid in you to play football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-edwards/you-gotta-have-a-little-kid-in-you-to-play-football/) [Herman Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-edwards/) > [My team mates are fundamental for my characteristics, if they send in crosses I can play inside the area.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/filippo-inzaghi/my-team-mates-are-fundamental-for-my-characteristics-if-they-send-in/) [Filippo Inzaghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/filippo-inzaghi/) > [Leo, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Eden. Every year, you look at their numbers - score goals, assists, minutes - to see they play very well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro/leo-cristiano-ronaldo-neymar-eden-every-year-you-look-at-their/) [Pedro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro/) > [But we are convinced that if we are to play a meaningful role nationally, and in the community of nations, we must be second…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-sarabhai/but-we-are-convinced-that-if-we-are-to-play-a-meaningful-role/) [Vikram Sarabhai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-sarabhai/) > [It's a lot harder to play football when you haven't got the ball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gray/it-s-a-lot-harder-to-play-football-when-you-haven-t-got-the-ball/) [Andy Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gray/) > [My embarrassing confession is that my father is a 'Camelot: The Musical' obsessive. 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