--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Writers who take on polarising issues are…" description: "\"Writers who take on polarising issues are apt to step on a few toes.\" — Lionel Shriver" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d5/lionel-shriver-744_issues_writers-who-take-on-polarising-issues-ar_632974.jpg" --- # Writers who take on polarising issues are apt to step on a… ![“Writers who take on polarising issues are apt to step on a few toes.” quote by Lionel Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d5/lionel-shriver-744_issues_writers-who-take-on-polarising-issues-ar_632974.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d5/lionel-shriver-744_issues_writers-who-take-on-polarising-issues-ar_632974.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d5/lionel-shriver-744_issues_writers-who-take-on-polarising-issues-ar_632974.jpg) > “Writers who take on polarising issues are apt to step on a few toes.” [Lionel Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-shriver/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Discusses risk of offending when tackling divisive topics. **In simple terms:** Polarizing writing can upset some readers. Key Takeaway Write boldly, accept criticism. Themes controversy courage social issues Mood provocative critical Type political social When to use this quote - publishing - activism - debates Key Concepts free speech public discourse Questions to Reflect On - What issues demand boldness? - How to balance truth with sensitivity? A Different Perspective Provocation may alienate audiences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Issues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/issues/) [Polarising](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/polarising-1333039/) [Polarising Issues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/polarising-issues-5097618/) [Step](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/step/) [Step Toes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/step-toes-1287031/) [Toes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/toes/) [Who](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/who/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writers/) [Writers Polarising](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writers-polarising-5097617/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [Every star knows you step on some toes to get where you're going - and some more after you get there. Nobody means to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jayne-mansfield/every-star-knows-you-step-on-some-toes-to-get-where-you-re-going-and/) [Jayne Mansfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jayne-mansfield/) > [“Don’t step on my toes. Especially if I’m walking on my hands.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/don-t-step-on-my-toes-especially-if-i-m-walking-on-my-hands/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [Being from the Middle East paired with my upbringing in the United States had pretty polarising effects on the way I perceive beauty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huda-kattan/being-from-the-middle-east-paired-with-my-upbringing-in-the-united/) [Huda Kattan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huda-kattan/) > [My character is very polarising, sure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-rollins/my-character-is-very-polarising-sure/) [Seth Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-rollins/) > [Art is supposed to be polarising.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harshvardhan-kapoor/art-is-supposed-to-be-polarising/) [Harshvardhan Kapoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harshvardhan-kapoor/) > [I'm pretty much who I am, and I'm not everybody's flavour, and I'm kind of polarising and some people like me and some people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-aries/i-m-pretty-much-who-i-am-and-i-m-not-everybody-s-flavour-and-i-m-kind/) [Austin Aries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-aries/) > [I feel like polarising art is always the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myha-la/i-feel-like-polarising-art-is-always-the-best/) [Myha'la](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myha-la/) > [It's fun to be the guy that can be so polarising and have that effect on so many different people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-busch/it-s-fun-to-be-the-guy-that-can-be-so-polarising-and-have-that-effect/) [Kyle Busch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-busch/) > [“If you step on everyone's toes, you will have no one to dance with.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/if-you-step-on-everyone-s-toes-you-will-have-no-one-to-dance-with/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [You won't step on other's toes if you imagine yourself in their shoes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/you-won-t-step-on-other-s-toes-if-you-imagine-yourself-in-their-shoes/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [When you're in politics sometimes you step on toes and they come back and kick you in the backside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-bartlett/when-you-re-in-politics-sometimes-you-step-on-toes-and-they-come-back/) [Steve Bartlett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-bartlett/) > [“Learn to stand up for yourself, so that no one can step on your toes in pretence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gift-gugu-mona/learn-to-stand-up-for-yourself-so-that-no-one-can-step-on-your-toes/) [Gift Gugu Mona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gift-gugu-mona/) > [Parents who are afraid to put their foot down usually have children who step on their toes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/parents-who-are-afraid-to-put-their-foot-down-usually-have-children/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The nineteenth century lynching mob cuts off ears, toes, and fingers, strips off flesh, and distributes portions of the body as souvenirs among the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ida-b-wells/the-nineteenth-century-lynching-mob-cuts-off-ears-toes-and-fingers/) [Ida B. Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ida-b-wells/) > [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) ## More by Lionel Shriver > [The discovery that heartbreak is indeed heartbreaking consoles us about our humanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-shriver/the-discovery-that-heartbreak-is-indeed-heartbreaking-consoles-us/) [Lionel Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-shriver/) > [“I’m a journalist, and journalists need news. Deprive them of it, and they go a bit barking. 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