--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I am afraid to speak is when I…" description: "\"“When I am afraid to speak is when I speak. That is when it is most important.”\" — Nayyirah waheed" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c5/nayyirah-waheed-8336_fear_when-i-am-afraid-to-speak-is-when-i-spea_1277229.jpg" --- # When I am afraid to speak is when I speak. That is when it… ![“When I am afraid to speak is when I speak. That is when it is most important.” quote by Nayyirah waheed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c5/nayyirah-waheed-8336_fear_when-i-am-afraid-to-speak-is-when-i-spea_1277229.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c5/nayyirah-waheed-8336_fear_when-i-am-afraid-to-speak-is-when-i-spea_1277229.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c5/nayyirah-waheed-8336_fear_when-i-am-afraid-to-speak-is-when-i-spea_1277229.jpg) > ““When I am afraid to speak is when I speak. That is when it is most important.”” [Nayyirah waheed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nayyirah-waheed/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Fearful silence can be the most vital voice; speaking when scared reveals true importance. **In simple terms:** Speak when afraid; it matters most. Key Takeaway Embrace vulnerability in expression. Themes courage voice authenticity Mood introspective empowering thoughtful Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - public speaking - conflict resolution - personal journaling - creative writing Key Concepts psychology of fear self‑expression Questions to Reflect On - When does silence serve better? - How can you turn fear into constructive speech? A Different Perspective Fear may also paralyze; speaking isn’t always the solution. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Afraid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afraid/) [Afraid Speak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afraid-speak/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Speak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speak/) [Speak Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speak-important-2769773/) [Speak Speak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speak-speak-403853/) ## Related quotes > [When you leave good people afraid to speak on behalf of justice, however awkwardly or insensitively, those unafraid to speak will rise to power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-e-morgan/when-you-leave-good-people-afraid-to-speak-on-behalf-of-justice/) [C.E. Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-e-morgan/) > [“People who can speak well, speak briefly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/people-who-can-speak-well-speak-briefly/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [it is not enough to speak, but to speak truee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/it-is-not-enough-to-speak-but-to-speak-truee/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [When speaking, you need to be clear and concise. Speak on important matters directly and do not waste time with long drawn out stories…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dranil-kr-sinha/when-speaking-you-need-to-be-clear-and-concise-speak-on-important/) [DrAnil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dranil-kr-sinha/) > [I think it's important for women to speak up, it's important to speak up for their rights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeenat-aman/i-think-it-s-important-for-women-to-speak-up-it-s-important-to-speak/) [Zeenat Aman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeenat-aman/) > [Trust in the process and letting it speak to you is important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-payton/trust-in-the-process-and-letting-it-speak-to-you-is-important/) [Sean Payton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-payton/) > [If you have an argument with someone and you sulk, sometimes you don't want to speak to them. But it is important to keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jermain-defoe/if-you-have-an-argument-with-someone-and-you-sulk-sometimes-you-don-t/) [Jermain Defoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jermain-defoe/) > [Words have power, and especially in the realm of beauty, how we speak about ourselves is important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crystal-hana-kim/words-have-power-and-especially-in-the-realm-of-beauty-how-we-speak/) [Crystal Hana Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crystal-hana-kim/) > [“The words we speak are important, powerful, and since names are spoken every day, directed at specific individuals, people often become what they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gena-showalter/the-words-we-speak-are-important-powerful-and-since-names-are-spoken/) [Gena Showalter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gena-showalter/) > [I choose movies that I think will speak to what's important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-penn/i-choose-movies-that-i-think-will-speak-to-what-s-important/) [Sean Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-penn/) > [“the way you speak is often more important than anything you have to say.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-lockhart/the-way-you-speak-is-often-more-important-than-anything-you-have-to/) [E. Lockhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-lockhart/) > [At the end it's not too important to speak too much. The important thing is what you do on the pitch, that you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-lichtsteiner/at-the-end-it-s-not-too-important-to-speak-too-much-the-important/) [Stephan Lichtsteiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-lichtsteiner/) > [“She believed that the way you speak is often more important than anything you have to say.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-lockhart/she-believed-that-the-way-you-speak-is-often-more-important-than/) [E. Lockhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-lockhart/) > [Before I speak, I have something important to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/before-i-speak-i-have-something-important-to-say/) [Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/) > [I deeply wish to help move Kentucky and our country forward and I can assure you that I will continue to speak out on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-mcgrath/i-deeply-wish-to-help-move-kentucky-and-our-country-forward-and-i-can/) [Amy McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-mcgrath/) ## More by Nayyirah waheed > [“healing begins the moment you want it to”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nayyirah-waheed/healing-begins-the-moment-you-want-it-to/) [Nayyirah Waheed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nayyirah-waheed/) > [“i am trying to remember you and let you go at the same time. — the mourn”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nayyirah-waheed/i-am-trying-to-remember-you-and-let-you-go-at-the-same-time-the-mourn/) [Nayyirah Waheed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nayyirah-waheed/) > [“there are feelings. you haven’t felt yet. give them time. they are almost here. – fresh”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nayyirah-waheed/there-are-feelings-you-haven-t-felt-yet-give-them-time-they-are/) [Nayyirah Waheed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nayyirah-waheed/) > [“to be waterdrugged into rejecting the nuances of my own bursting extraordinary self. and to have this be called education.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nayyirah-waheed/to-be-waterdrugged-into-rejecting-the-nuances-of-my-own-bursting/) [Nayyirah Waheed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nayyirah-waheed/) > [“i am writing my way back to you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nayyirah-waheed/i-am-writing-my-way-back-to-you/) [Nayyirah Waheed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nayyirah-waheed/) > [“when you meet that person. a person. one of your soulmates. let the connection. relationship. be what it is. it may be five mins.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nayyirah-waheed/when-you-meet-that-person-a-person-one-of-your-soulmates-let-the/) [Nayyirah Waheed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nayyirah-waheed/) > [“fell apart many times. so. what does that say about me besides i live through wars.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nayyirah-waheed/fell-apart-many-times-so-what-does-that-say-about-me-besides-i-live/) [Nayyirah Waheed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nayyirah-waheed/) > [“a friend. is someone who supports your breath.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nayyirah-waheed/a-friend-is-someone-who-supports-your-breath/) [Nayyirah Waheed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nayyirah-waheed/) > [“stay is a sensitive word. we wear who stayed and who left in our skin forever”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nayyirah-waheed/stay-is-a-sensitive-word-we-wear-who-stayed-and-who-left-in-our-skin/) [Nayyirah Waheed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nayyirah-waheed/) > [“black women breathe flowers, too. just because we are taught to grow them in the lining of our quiet (our grandmothers secret) does nor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nayyirah-waheed/black-women-breathe-flowers-too-just-because-we-are-taught-to-grow/) [Nayyirah Waheed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nayyirah-waheed/) > [“bleed every month. but do not die. how am i not magic. – the lie”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nayyirah-waheed/bleed-every-month-but-do-not-die-how-am-i-not-magic-the-lie/) [Nayyirah Waheed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nayyirah-waheed/) > [“i knew you before i met you. i’ve known you my whole life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nayyirah-waheed/i-knew-you-before-i-met-you-i-ve-known-you-my-whole-life/) [Nayyirah Waheed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nayyirah-waheed/) > [“sometimes the beauty of my people is so thick and intricate. i spend days trying to undo my eyes so i can sleep.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nayyirah-waheed/sometimes-the-beauty-of-my-people-is-so-thick-and-intricate-i-spend/) [nayyirah waheed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nayyirah-waheed/) > [“the truth is you were born for you. you were wanted by you. you came for you. you are here for you. your existence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nayyirah-waheed/the-truth-is-you-were-born-for-you-you-were-wanted-by-you-you-came/) [Nayyirah Waheed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nayyirah-waheed/) > [“i found flaws and they were beautiful. – ugly”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nayyirah-waheed/i-found-flaws-and-they-were-beautiful-ugly/) [Nayyirah Waheed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nayyirah-waheed/) [Explore all 81 Nayyirah waheed quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nayyirah-waheed/) ## 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": "“When I am afraid to speak is when I speak. 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