Extras Quote by Sandra Cisneros
“The older you get, the more power you have with language as a writer, which means that you have to be extra responsible for what you say, whether it's in print or in front of a microphone, because those words can go out and kill or go out and plant seeds for peace.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Literary magazine, 2021
Writers wield powerful influence; they must use language responsibly because words can cause harm or foster peace.
In simple terms: Authors have a duty to consider the impact of their words.
Key Takeaway
Choose words that build rather than destroy.
Themes
responsibility
language
influence
Mood
thoughtful
inspirational
Type
literary
ethical
When to use this quote
- journalism
- public speaking
- creative writing
Key Concepts
ethics
communication
peacebuilding
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you ensure your message is received as intended?
- What safeguards can writers use?
A Different Perspective
Powerful words can be misinterpreted despite good intentions.
![“[Jorge Luis Borges] had short stories, and I was trying to learn how to write short stories, and then he had these things in the middle that were like fables, and I loved hearing fables.” quote by Sandra Cisneros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/a46/sandra-cisneros-862_borges_jorge-luis-borges-had-short-stories-and_102630.jpg)
![“We changed it to emocionó, the way you say in Spanish, "to emotion me" [to be moved]. That, as opposed to "haunt." We wanted the feeling of sadness and grief and obsession, so we used emocionó.” quote by Sandra Cisneros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/8fc/sandra-cisneros-862_changed_we-changed-it-to-emocion-the-way-you-say_108295.jpg)
