--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We can learn to work and speak when we…" description: "\"“We can learn to work and speak when we are afraid in the same way we have learned to work and speak when we are tired. For we have been socialized to ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b75/college-of-st-catherine-staff_fear_we-can-learn-to-work-and-speak-when-we-a_904085.jpg" --- # We can learn to work and speak when we are afraid in the… ![“We can learn to work and speak when we are afraid in the same way we have learned to work and speak when we are tired. For we have been socialized to respect fear more than our own needs for language and definition, and while we wait in silence for that final luxury of fearlessness, the weight of…” quote by College of St. Catherine Staff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b75/college-of-st-catherine-staff_fear_we-can-learn-to-work-and-speak-when-we-a_904085.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b75/college-of-st-catherine-staff_fear_we-can-learn-to-work-and-speak-when-we-a_904085.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b75/college-of-st-catherine-staff_fear_we-can-learn-to-work-and-speak-when-we-a_904085.jpg) > ““We can learn to work and speak when we are afraid in the same way we have learned to work and speak when we are tired. For we have been socialized to respect fear more than our own needs for language and definition, and while we wait in silence for that final luxury of fearlessness, the weight of that silence will choke us. (227)”” College of St. Catherine Staff ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Fear often overrides genuine needs, silencing expression; confronting fear can restore authentic communication and personal agency. **In simple terms:** Fear silences; confronting restores voice. Key Takeaway Challenge fear to speak authentically. Themes psychology communication fear self‑expression authenticity Mood empathetic insightful Type Afraid:1 Fear:1 Fearlessness:0 Silence:1 Work Speak:0 Respect Fear:0 Speak Afraid:0 When to use this quote - public speaking - conflict resolution - therapy sessions - mindful listening Key Concepts cognitive behavioral therapy social dynamics personal growth Questions to Reflect On - When does fear serve you? - How can silence be broken constructively? A Different Perspective Fear can be protective, not just limiting. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Fearlessness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fearlessness/) [Silence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silence/) ## Related quotes > [“We can learn to work and speak when we are afraid in the same way we have learned to work and speak when we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audre-lorde/we-can-learn-to-work-and-speak-when-we-are-afraid-in-the-same-way-we/) [Audre Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audre-lorde/) > [For we have been socialized to respect fear more than our own needs for language and definition, and while we wait in silence for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audre-lorde/for-we-have-been-socialized-to-respect-fear-more-than-our-own-needs/) [Audre Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audre-lorde/) > [I'm afraid to close my eyes cause I might think of you, I'm afraid to open them cause I might see you, I'm afraid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/praise-jonathan/i-m-afraid-to-close-my-eyes-cause-i-might-think-of-you-i-m-afraid-to/) [Praise Jonathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/praise-jonathan/) > [“I'm so afraid to speak. So afraid to move my lips. I'm so scared that if I move even an inch, my body will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/i-m-so-afraid-to-speak-so-afraid-to-move-my-lips-i-m-so-scared-that/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [Most people are good people. But they're afraid to speak out, they're afraid for their safety and their jobs. And unfortunately that dictates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-shenk/most-people-are-good-people-but-they-re-afraid-to-speak-out-they-re/) [Jon Shenk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-shenk/) > [People speak because they are afraid of silence. They speak mechanically whether aloud or to themselves. They are intoxicated by this vocal gruel that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-makine/people-speak-because-they-are-afraid-of-silence-they-speak/) [Andreï Makine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-makine/) > [I want to speak for people who can't speak; they're afraid to speak.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-abstract/i-want-to-speak-for-people-who-can-t-speak-they-re-afraid-to-speak/) [Kevin Abstract](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-abstract/) > [When we speak we are afraid our words will not be heard or welcomed. But when we are silent, we are still afraid. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audre-lorde/when-we-speak-we-are-afraid-our-words-will-not-be-heard-or-welcomed/) [Audre Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audre-lorde/) > [I'm afraid to close my eyes coz I might think of you... I'm afraid to open them coz I might see you... I'm afraid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-afraid-to-close-my-eyes-coz-i-might-think-of-you-i-m-afraid-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“and when we speak we are afraid our words will not be heard nor welcomed but when we are silent we are still afraid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audre-lorde/and-when-we-speak-we-are-afraid-our-words-will-not-be-heard-nor/) [Audre Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audre-lorde/) > [Courage doesn't mean being free from fear; it means learning to work through fear and speak even when we are afraid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-brooks/courage-doesn-t-mean-being-free-from-fear-it-means-learning-to-work/) [Joanna Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-brooks/) > [And when the sun rises we are afraid it might not remain when the sun sets we are afraid it might not rise in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audre-lorde/and-when-the-sun-rises-we-are-afraid-it-might-not-remain-when-the-sun/) [Audre Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audre-lorde/) > [When people do the cowardly thing, it's not about respect, it's about fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/when-people-do-the-cowardly-thing-it-s-not-about-respect-it-s-about/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [Respect by fear of ruler is like heart without feelings, grow yourself such that you achieve respect by heart, thats the purest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senoraroy/respect-by-fear-of-ruler-is-like-heart-without-feelings-grow-yourself/) Senoraroy > [Respect all. Fear none.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bum-phillips/respect-all-fear-none/) [Bum Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bum-phillips/) ## More by College of St. Catherine Staff > [“It’s quite a breathtaking analysis of power that, if nothing else, gives a new spin on Disney movies that have their motherless heroines married…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/college-of-st-catherine-staff/it-s-quite-a-breathtaking-analysis-of-power-that-if-nothing-else/) College of St. Catherine Staff Explore all 2 College of St. Catherine Staff quotes ## More Afraid quotes > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [“Carrie Fisher. “Stay afraid, but do it anyway.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-union/carrie-fisher-stay-afraid-but-do-it-anyway/) [Gabrielle Union](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-union/) > [I used to be afraid of my temper, but it turns out I don't really have one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-bell/i-used-to-be-afraid-of-my-temper-but-it-turns-out-i-don-t-really-have/) [Zoe Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-bell/) > [I get afraid of the dark if I'm in a great deal of dark, and I have to move around inside of that fear...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-ferris/i-get-afraid-of-the-dark-if-i-m-in-a-great-deal-of-dark-and-i-have-to/) [Emil Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-ferris/) > [I am not afraid of praise, for I have practiced it on myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-am-not-afraid-of-praise-for-i-have-practiced-it-on-myself/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I'm a pretty fearless person. I'm afraid of, like, creepy men in white vans and sidewalks with no streetlights. But I'm not afraid to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-totah/i-m-a-pretty-fearless-person-i-m-afraid-of-like-creepy-men-in-white/) [Josie Totah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-totah/) > [I will support my party when they are right on an issue, but am not afraid to stand up to party bosses who are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darlene-senger/i-will-support-my-party-when-they-are-right-on-an-issue-but-am-not/) Darlene Senger > [Why am I so afraid to loose you,when you're not even mine?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/why-am-i-so-afraid-to-loose-you-when-you-re-not-even-mine/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I want to tell you, but I cant, becuase I'm afraid if I do you'll never treat me same the again](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cristina-orante/i-want-to-tell-you-but-i-cant-becuase-i-m-afraid-if-i-do-you-ll-never/) [Cristina Orante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cristina-orante/) > [Mistakes I've made in the past make me afraid to try new things in the future. I want to be perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-altucher/mistakes-i-ve-made-in-the-past-make-me-afraid-to-try-new-things-in/) [James Altucher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-altucher/) > [“Humans are naturally scared and confused beings. They not only fear the unknown, as they live fearing themselves... ☥”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-marques/humans-are-naturally-scared-and-confused-beings-they-not-only-fear/) [Luis Marques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-marques/) > [If you are too afraid of failure, you cant possibly do what needs to be done to succeed in living a fulfilling life. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/if-you-are-too-afraid-of-failure-you-cant-possibly-do-what-needs-to/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [We cannot be afraid of the dark that they live in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burnie-burns/we-cannot-be-afraid-of-the-dark-that-they-live-in/) [Burnie Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burnie-burns/) > [“I think the reason we're cruel sometimes is that we're afraid we're going to like something.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/i-think-the-reason-we-re-cruel-sometimes-is-that-we-re-afraid-we-re/) [Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/) > [I'm still with that feeling that I am afraid of doing the wrong thing, because somebody is going to punish me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eartha-kitt/i-m-still-with-that-feeling-that-i-am-afraid-of-doing-the-wrong-thing/) [Eartha Kitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eartha-kitt/) Browse all 5,519 Afraid quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“We can learn to work and speak when we are afraid in the same way we have learned to work and speak when we are tired. 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