Civilized society Quote by Dorothy Allison
““I have lived my life in pursuit of the remade world... I believe in truth. I believe in truth denied any use of it can believe in it. I know its power. I know the threat it represents to a world constructed on lies. I know the myths of the family that thread through our society's literature, music, politics - and I know the reality. The reality is that for many of us family was as much the incubator of despair as the safe nurturing haven the myths promised... But I also believe in hope... The worst thing done to us in the name of a civilized society is to label the truth of our lives material outside the legitimate subject matter of serious writers... I need you to do more than survive. As writers, as revolutionaries, tell the truth, your truth in your own way. Do not buy into their system of censorship, imagining that if you drop this character or hide that emotion, you can slide through their blockades. Do not eat your heart out in the hope of pleasing them. The only hope you have, the only hope any of us has, is the remade life.””
About This Quote
The speaker urges writers to confront truth despite societal censorship, recognizing truth’s power and danger, and to create hopeful, authentic narratives that challenge oppressive myths.
In simple terms: Tell honest stories, resist censorship, and inspire hope.
Key Takeaway
Write truthfully and inspire change.
Themes
truth
censorship
hope
revolution
literature
Mood
determined
hopeful
Type
inspirational
political
When to use this quote
- journalism
- fiction
- academic essays
- activist writing
Key Concepts
political activism
ethical storytelling
social critique
Questions to Reflect On
- What truth are you avoiding?
- How can you balance hope with harsh realities?
A Different Perspective
Truth can be suppressed, limiting impact.
![“That country [Carthage] was rapidly sinking into the state of barbarism from whence it had been raised by the Phoenician colonies and Roman laws; and every step of intestine discord was marked by some deplorable victory of savage man over civilized society.” quote by Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/70c/edward-gibbon-710_barbarism_that-country-carthage-was-rapidly-sinkin_393.jpg)
