Cease Quote by Claudia Rankine
“The subject who speaks is situated in relation to the other. This privilege of the other ceases to be incomprehensible once we admit that the first fact of existence is neither being in itself nor being for itself but being for the other, in other words, that human existence is a creature. By offering a word, the subject putting himself forward lays himself open and, in a sense, prays.”
About This Quote
Source Poetry Collection: Citizen, 2014
The self defines itself through the other, and speaking is an act of exposing oneself to the other.
In simple terms: We become through others; speaking opens us.
Key Takeaway
Embrace dialogue that reveals self.
Themes
identity
language
otherness
Mood
introspective
provocative
Type
philosophical
literary
When to use this quote
- counseling
- teaching
- artistic performance
- public discourse
Key Concepts
Existentialism
phenomenology
social theory
Questions to Reflect On
- How does listening shape your identity?
- What risks do you take when you speak?
A Different Perspective
Speaking may be misinterpreted or ignored.