--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The one thing I have never been afraid of…" description: "\"The one thing I have never been afraid of is standing before important people and speaking my mind. I represent women who may never have the opportunit..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0bb/leymah-gbowee-16010_afraid_the-one-thing-i-have-never-been-afraid-o_3223629.png" --- # The one thing I have never been afraid of is standing… ![“The one thing I have never been afraid of is standing before important people and speaking my mind. I represent women who may never have the opportunity to go to the UN or meet with a president. I'm never afraid to speak truth to power.” quote by Leymah Gbowee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0bb/leymah-gbowee-16010_afraid_the-one-thing-i-have-never-been-afraid-o_3223629.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0bb/leymah-gbowee-16010_afraid_the-one-thing-i-have-never-been-afraid-o_3223629.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0bb/leymah-gbowee-16010_afraid_the-one-thing-i-have-never-been-afraid-o_3223629.png) > “The one thing I have never been afraid of is standing before important people and speaking my mind. I represent women who may never have the opportunity to go to the UN or meet with a president. I'm never afraid to speak truth to power.” [Leymah Gbowee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leymah-gbowee/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Standing before powerful audiences and voicing truth is a duty, especially for those without a platform. **In simple terms:** Speak truth despite fear, for others. Key Takeaway Use your voice for the voiceless. Themes courage justice advocacy Mood determined empowering Type inspirational political When to use this quote - UN meetings - political rallies - community forums - media interviews Key Concepts Gender equality political activism moral responsibility Questions to Reflect On - How can you amplify marginalized voices? - What personal costs arise from confronting power? 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You speak truth to power by making people laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-cooper/you-know-as-a-comedian-that-s-what-you-do-you-speak-truth-to-power-by/) [Sarah Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-cooper/) > [As Public Advocate for the City of New York, I have a duty to speak truth to power and do what is best for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/letitia-james/as-public-advocate-for-the-city-of-new-york-i-have-a-duty-to-speak/) [Letitia James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/letitia-james/) > [It's very, very hard to speak truth to power when the truth is unpleasant. I think it's one of the toughest things especially a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gergen/it-s-very-very-hard-to-speak-truth-to-power-when-the-truth-is/) [David Gergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gergen/) > [I feel like my career is to speak truth to power, and a lot of times, that sounds like troublemaking. If speaking truth is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luvvie-ajayi/i-feel-like-my-career-is-to-speak-truth-to-power-and-a-lot-of-times/) [Luvvie Ajayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luvvie-ajayi/) > [“It can be difficult to speak truth to power. Circumstances, however, have made doing so increasingly necessary.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aberjhani/it-can-be-difficult-to-speak-truth-to-power-circumstances-however/) [Aberjhani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aberjhani/) > [Babes crying in the wilderness know that the world already has plenty of terrifying noise, but there aren't enough clear voices to smooth our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-h-cook/babes-crying-in-the-wilderness-know-that-the-world-already-has-plenty/) [Thomas H. Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-h-cook/) > [In the RFK Center's Speak Truth to Power program, we are working with schools across the United States and in countries like Italy, Cambodia…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-kennedy/in-the-rfk-center-s-speak-truth-to-power-program-we-are-working-with/) [Kerry Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-kennedy/) > [Intellectuals may like to think of themselves as people who "speak truth to power" but too often they are people who speak lies to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/intellectuals-may-like-to-think-of-themselves-as-people-who-speak/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [Speak truth to power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/speak-truth-to-power/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [Our democracy is designed to speak truth to power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandria-ocasio-cortez/our-democracy-is-designed-to-speak-truth-to-power/) [Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandria-ocasio-cortez/) > [ The time-honored role of the artist \[is\] to speak truth to power. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/the-time-honored-role-of-the-artist-is-to-speak-truth-to-power/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [“Why have the writings of the prophets endured? Because they fearlessly speak truth to power. They call out the injustice and oppression of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-bell/why-have-the-writings-of-the-prophets-endured-because-they-fearlessly/) [Rob Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-bell/) > [We speak truth to power, and we've never been fooled into believing Donald Trump 'can be a good president.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-de-leon/we-speak-truth-to-power-and-we-ve-never-been-fooled-into-believing/) [Kevin de Leon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-de-leon/) > [It is an author's most solemn obligation to honor truth. If the free and independent writer does not speak truth to power, who will?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/it-is-an-author-s-most-solemn-obligation-to-honor-truth-if-the-free/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) > [If I had to reduce the responsibilities of a good follower to a single rule, it would be to speak truth to power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/if-i-had-to-reduce-the-responsibilities-of-a-good-follower-to-a/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) ## More by Leymah Gbowee > [We have lived through fear all our lives, and when you have gone through a whole lot of fear, sometimes all you can do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leymah-gbowee/we-have-lived-through-fear-all-our-lives-and-when-you-have-gone/) [Leymah Gbowee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leymah-gbowee/) > [Religion by itself was not meant to be a divisive tool. All of our religious teachings have similar rules, such as a commitment to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leymah-gbowee/religion-by-itself-was-not-meant-to-be-a-divisive-tool-all-of-our/) [Leymah Gbowee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leymah-gbowee/) > [“The person who hurt you--who raped you or killed your family--is also here. If you are still angry at that person, if you haven't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leymah-gbowee/the-person-who-hurt-you-who-raped-you-or-killed-your-family-is-also/) [Leymah Gbowee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leymah-gbowee/) > [There is something in this world that every individual can do. God has created all of us with something unique to contribute.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leymah-gbowee/there-is-something-in-this-world-that-every-individual-can-do-god-has/) [Leymah Gbowee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leymah-gbowee/) > [I always tell people, anger is like liquid. It's fluid, it's like water. You put it in a container and it takes the shape…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leymah-gbowee/i-always-tell-people-anger-is-like-liquid-it-s-fluid-it-s-like-water/) [Leymah Gbowee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leymah-gbowee/) > [Men are the ones who often juggle back and forth for power. It is the women who bring humanity to the table - an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leymah-gbowee/men-are-the-ones-who-often-juggle-back-and-forth-for-power-it-is-the/) [Leymah Gbowee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leymah-gbowee/) > [You cannot say you've achieved equality until EVERYONE is equal and has equal opportunities!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leymah-gbowee/you-cannot-say-you-ve-achieved-equality-until-everyone-is-equal-and/) [Leymah Gbowee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leymah-gbowee/) > [ We go into rural communities, and all we do - like has been done in this room \[at TED\] - is create the space.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leymah-gbowee/we-go-into-rural-communities-and-all-we-do-like-has-been-done-in-this/) [Leymah Gbowee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leymah-gbowee/) > [We go into rural communities and all we do, like has been done in this room, is create the space. When these girls sit,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leymah-gbowee/we-go-into-rural-communities-and-all-we-do-like-has-been-done-in-this-2/) [Leymah Gbowee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leymah-gbowee/) > [The world is waiting to hear from you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leymah-gbowee/the-world-is-waiting-to-hear-from-you/) [Leymah Gbowee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leymah-gbowee/) > [Leadership is standing with your people. People say you have to live to fight another day, but sometimes you have to show you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leymah-gbowee/leadership-is-standing-with-your-people-people-say-you-have-to-live/) [Leymah Gbowee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leymah-gbowee/) > [Don't stop, echoes the older Liberian lady's voice. Don't ever stop. My answer to her: I never will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leymah-gbowee/don-t-stop-echoes-the-older-liberian-lady-s-voice-don-t-ever-stop-my/) [Leymah Gbowee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leymah-gbowee/) > [“Most of the institutions that come in to offer help after disaster don't have the resources to provide concrete help. . . . Donor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leymah-gbowee/most-of-the-institutions-that-come-in-to-offer-help-after-disaster/) [Leymah Gbowee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leymah-gbowee/) > ['I wish for a better life. I wish for food for my children. I wish that sexual abuse and exploitation in schools would stop.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leymah-gbowee/i-wish-for-a-better-life-i-wish-for-food-for-my-children-i-wish-that/) [Leymah Gbowee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leymah-gbowee/) > [Women are the ones that bear the greatest burden. We are also the ones who nurture societies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leymah-gbowee/women-are-the-ones-that-bear-the-greatest-burden-we-are-also-the-ones/) [Leymah Gbowee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leymah-gbowee/) [Explore all 41 Leymah Gbowee quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leymah-gbowee/) ## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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 ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afraid/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The one thing I have never been afraid of is standing before important people and speaking my mind. 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