--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Writing is the only way I know to demand…" description: "\"Writing is the only way I know to demand justice from an uncaring universe.\" — Dorothy Allison" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d4/dorothy-allison-2041_demand_writing-is-the-only-way-i-know-to-demand_407256.png" --- # Writing is the only way I know to demand justice from an… ![“Writing is the only way I know to demand justice from an uncaring universe.” quote by Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d4/dorothy-allison-2041_demand_writing-is-the-only-way-i-know-to-demand_407256.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d4/dorothy-allison-2041_demand_writing-is-the-only-way-i-know-to-demand_407256.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d4/dorothy-allison-2041_demand_writing-is-the-only-way-i-know-to-demand_407256.png) > “Writing is the only way I know to demand justice from an uncaring universe.” [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writing becomes a tool to confront injustice when the world feels indifferent. **In simple terms:** Writing helps demand fairness from an uncaring world. Key Takeaway Use writing to voice grievances and inspire change. Themes justice expression resilience activism voice Mood determined hopeful Type advocacy inspirational When to use this quote - blog posts - opinion pieces - poetry - activist campaigns Key Concepts narrative therapy social critique empowerment Questions to Reflect On - How can your words translate into concrete impact? - What platforms amplify marginalized voices? A Different Perspective Writing alone may not change systemic structures without action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Demand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/demand/) [Demand Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/demand-justice-409858/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Justice Uncaring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice-uncaring-3638550/) [Uncaring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/uncaring/) [Uncaring Universe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/uncaring-universe-647218/) [Universe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universe/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [Are we alone in an uncaring universe, or is God some kind of wiseguy?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-groening/are-we-alone-in-an-uncaring-universe-or-is-god-some-kind-of-wiseguy/) [Matt Groening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-groening/) > [Many are observing Ferguson and witnessing the anger, demonstrations, looting and vandalism and calling for quiet. But quiet isn't enough. The absence of noise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/many-are-observing-ferguson-and-witnessing-the-anger-demonstrations/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [“Conspiracy theories are also a way for people to give context and meaning to events that frighten them. Without a coherent explanation for why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-m-nichols/conspiracy-theories-are-also-a-way-for-people-to-give-context-and/) [Thomas M. Nichols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-m-nichols/) > [I just want to remind people that the task of those who support reproductive rights and reproductive justice didn't change based on who is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-parker/i-just-want-to-remind-people-that-the-task-of-those-who-support/) [Willie Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-parker/) > [I call on the international community to be fair to the Iraqi people. My position is that we respect international resolutions but in return…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ahmed-chalabi/i-call-on-the-international-community-to-be-fair-to-the-iraqi-people/) [Ahmed Chalabi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ahmed-chalabi/) > [I am a judge born, raised, and proud of being a Jew. The demand for justice runs through the entirety of the Jewish tradition.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/i-am-a-judge-born-raised-and-proud-of-being-a-jew-the-demand-for/) [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) > [I would think a lot more would be done to demand justice, to demand that officials in Belgrade have a serious investigation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-walker/i-would-think-a-lot-more-would-be-done-to-demand-justice-to-demand/) [William Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-walker/) > [Bulls can do nothing to demand justice. They can only defend themselves as best they can in a fight with a pre-determined ending and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-newkirk/bulls-can-do-nothing-to-demand-justice-they-can-only-defend/) [Ingrid Newkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-newkirk/) > [Power at its best is love implementing the demand of justice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/power-at-its-best-is-love-implementing-the-demand-of-justice/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [If this country can demand justice for someone like George Floyd, then we can certainly demand justice for Ashli Babbitt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marjorie-taylor-greene/if-this-country-can-demand-justice-for-someone-like-george-floyd-then/) [Marjorie Taylor Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marjorie-taylor-greene/) > [If this work can contribute in any way toward proving this, and at the same time arouse the conscience of the American people to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ida-b-wells/if-this-work-can-contribute-in-any-way-toward-proving-this-and-at-the/) [Ida B. Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ida-b-wells/) > [Selsdon Man is designing a system of society for the ruthlessness and the pushing, the uncaring. His message to the rest is: you're out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-wilson/selsdon-man-is-designing-a-system-of-society-for-the-ruthlessness-and/) [Harold Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-wilson/) > [Why is it so hard to find someone who cares about you? When it's easy enough to find someone who looks down on you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-gontier/why-is-it-so-hard-to-find-someone-who-cares-about-you-when-it-s-easy/) [Adam Gontier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-gontier/) > [The media tries to destroy Republicans who make little faux pas and they start telling everybody how dumb and stupid or uncaring they are.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/the-media-tries-to-destroy-republicans-who-make-little-faux-pas-and/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [The original Greek word "idiotes" referred to people who might have had a high IQ, but were so self-involved that they focused exclusively on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-hightower/the-original-greek-word-idiotes-referred-to-people-who-might-have-had/) [Jim Hightower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-hightower/) ## More by Dorothy Allison > [she got a reputation for an easy smile and a sharp tongue, and using one to balance the other, she seemed friendly but distant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/she-got-a-reputation-for-an-easy-smile-and-a-sharp-tongue-and-using/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [“Simple answers, reductionist politics, are the most prone to compromise, to saying we’re addressing the essential issue and all that other stuff can slide.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/simple-answers-reductionist-politics-are-the-most-prone-to-compromise/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [People don't do right because of the fear of God or love of him. You do right because the world doesn't make sense if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/people-don-t-do-right-because-of-the-fear-of-god-or-love-of-him-you/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [“I had to say to her that it isn’t just men, and it isn’t just men “like that.” I had to talk to her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/i-had-to-say-to-her-that-it-isn-t-just-men-and-it-isn-t-just-men-like/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [“Entitlement, I have told them, is a matter of feeling like we rather than they.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/entitlement-i-have-told-them-is-a-matter-of-feeling-like-we-rather/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [“Love was something I would not have to worry about - the whole mystery of love, heartbreak songs, and family legends. Women who pined,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/love-was-something-i-would-not-have-to-worry-about-the-whole-mystery/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [“Behind the story I tell is the one I don't. Behind the story you hear is the one I wish I could make you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/behind-the-story-i-tell-is-the-one-i-don-t-behind-the-story-you-hear/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [Hunger makes you restless. you dream about food - not just any food, but perfect food, the best food, magical meals, famous and awe-inspiring,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/hunger-makes-you-restless-you-dream-about-food-not-just-any-food-but/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [I think I would have died if there hadn't been the women's movement. It gave me a vision that I could do something different,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/i-think-i-would-have-died-if-there-hadn-t-been-the-women-s-movement/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [People begin to write in order to create what they have not found and, a little bit, to give something back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/people-begin-to-write-in-order-to-create-what-they-have-not-found-and/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [The hardest thing to teach young writers is that it's wonderful to tell your truth. And that's what you should do. But it damn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/the-hardest-thing-to-teach-young-writers-is-that-it-s-wonderful-to/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [“The horror of class stratification, racism, and prejudice is that some people begin to believe that the security of their families and communities depends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/the-horror-of-class-stratification-racism-and-prejudice-is-that-some/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [I did not begin with craft, I began with strong feelings and worked toward craft.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/i-did-not-begin-with-craft-i-began-with-strong-feelings-and-worked/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [I think I would have died if there hadn't been the women's movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/i-think-i-would-have-died-if-there-hadn-t-been-the-women-s-movement-2/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [When I was growing up, I always read horror books, while my sister read romance novels. My sister became unmarried and pregnant during high…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/when-i-was-growing-up-i-always-read-horror-books-while-my-sister-read/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) [Explore all 189 Dorothy Allison quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) ## More Demand quotes > [Our times demand the declaration of the world's resources as the common heritage of all people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacque-fresco/our-times-demand-the-declaration-of-the-world-s-resources-as-the/) [Jacque Fresco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacque-fresco/) > [Parents who are stressed or disturbed will have more difficulty in meeting their children's needs. Parents who have little support--from friends, relatives, neighbors, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-kamerman/parents-who-are-stressed-or-disturbed-will-have-more-difficulty-in/) [Sheila Kamerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-kamerman/) > [If a person does not listen to the demands of their own spiritual and heart life and insists on a certain program, you're going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/if-a-person-does-not-listen-to-the-demands-of-their-own-spiritual-and/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [Empires fall, ids explode, great symphonies are written, and behind all of it is a single instinct that demands satisfaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwin-b-nuland/empires-fall-ids-explode-great-symphonies-are-written-and-behind-all/) [Sherwin B. Nuland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwin-b-nuland/) > [My dogs can't do anything--and what a relief. I don't make any demands of them, and I don't try to shape them or their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-chua/my-dogs-can-t-do-anything-and-what-a-relief-i-don-t-make-any-demands/) [Amy Chua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-chua/) > [The trouble is. . .that everybody sneers at restrictions and demands freedom, till something annoying happens; then they demand angrily what has become of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/the-trouble-is-that-everybody-sneers-at-restrictions-and-demands/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [You be greater than your feelings. I don't demand this of you - life does. Otherwise you'll be washed away by feelings. You'll be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-roth/you-be-greater-than-your-feelings-i-don-t-demand-this-of-you-life/) [Philip Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-roth/) > [Christianity does not oppose debauchery and uncontrollable passions and the like as much as it opposes... flat mediocrity, this nauseating atmosphere, this homey, civil…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/christianity-does-not-oppose-debauchery-and-uncontrollable-passions/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) > [It is an interesting law of romance that a truly strong woman will choose a strong man who disagrees with her over a weak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/it-is-an-interesting-law-of-romance-that-a-truly-strong-woman-will/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) > [If we get better our customers will demand we get bigger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-truett-cathy/if-we-get-better-our-customers-will-demand-we-get-bigger/) [S. Truett Cathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-truett-cathy/) > [If our faith in God is not the veriest sham, it demands, and will produce, the abandonment sometimes, the subordination always, of external helps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-maclaren/if-our-faith-in-god-is-not-the-veriest-sham-it-demands-and-will/) [Alexander MacLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-maclaren/) > [Money should be ones demand and command one should not become slave of money..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/money-should-be-ones-demand-and-command-one-should-not-become-slave/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [There was no mistake in us making abortion legal and available on demand. That was what we call progress. Just like it was no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ruffalo/there-was-no-mistake-in-us-making-abortion-legal-and-available-on/) [Mark Ruffalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ruffalo/) > [Most enjoyable activities are not natural; they demand an effort that initially one is reluctant to make. But once the interaction starts to provide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/most-enjoyable-activities-are-not-natural-they-demand-an-effort-that/) [Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/) > [Azerbaijan unleashed the war, and was defeated in that war; Azerbaijan asked for truce (including from the Commander of Karabakh's forces) and later started…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serzh-sargsyan/azerbaijan-unleashed-the-war-and-was-defeated-in-that-war-azerbaijan/) [Serzh Sargsyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serzh-sargsyan/) [Browse all 3,809 Demand quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/demand/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Writing is the only way I know to demand justice from an uncaring universe.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Dorothy Allison" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/writing-is-the-only-way-i-know-to-demand-justice-from-an-uncaring/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Demand" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/writing-is-the-only-way-i-know-to-demand-justice-from-an-uncaring/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d4/dorothy-allison-2041_demand_writing-is-the-only-way-i-know-to-demand_407256.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d4/dorothy-allison-2041_demand_writing-is-the-only-way-i-know-to-demand_407256.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d4/dorothy-allison-2041_demand_writing-is-the-only-way-i-know-to-demand_407256.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Writing is the only way I know to demand justice from an uncaring universe.” — Dorothy Allison", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Dorothy Allison", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Writing is the only way I...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/writing-is-the-only-way-i-know-to-demand-justice-from-an-uncaring/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/writing-is-the-only-way-i-know-to-demand-justice-from-an-uncaring/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```