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Children Quote by Dorothy Allison

“Yes, somewhere inside me there is a child always eleven years old, a girlchild who holds the world responsible for all the things that terrify and call to me. But inside me too is the teenager who armed herself and fought back, the dyke who did what she had to, the woman who learned to love…” quote by Dorothy Allison
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““Yes, somewhere inside me there is a child always eleven years old, a girlchild who holds the world responsible for all the things that terrify and call to me. But inside me too is the teenager who armed herself and fought back, the dyke who did what she had to, the woman who learned to love without giving in to fear.””

Dorothy Allison

About This Quote

Source Novel: Bastard Out of Carolina, 1992

A person contains multiple inner selves—a child, a teen, a resilient adult—each confronting fear and responsibility in different ways.

In simple terms: We hold many inner selves that face fear and responsibility.

Key Takeaway

Recognize and integrate all parts of yourself.

Themes

identity resilience growth gender psychology

Mood

reflective empathetic

Type

inspirational psychological

When to use this quote

  • therapy
  • creative writing
  • personal development
  • support groups

Key Concepts

self‑compassion inner child empowerment fear management

Questions to Reflect On

  • Which inner voice guides you most today?
  • How can you nurture the vulnerable parts of yourself?
A Different Perspective

Balancing these selves can be emotionally taxing.

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