--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Revolution begins with the self, in the…" description: "\"Revolution begins with the self, in the self… We'd better take the time to fashion revolutionary selves, revolutionary lives, revolutionary relationshi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b4/toni-cade-bambara-14357_fashion_revolution-begins-with-the-self-in-the-s_2090102.jpg" --- # Revolution begins with the self, in the self… We'd better… ![“Revolution begins with the self, in the self… We'd better take the time to fashion revolutionary selves, revolutionary lives, revolutionary relationships. Mouth don't win the war.” quote by Toni Cade Bambara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b4/toni-cade-bambara-14357_fashion_revolution-begins-with-the-self-in-the-s_2090102.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b4/toni-cade-bambara-14357_fashion_revolution-begins-with-the-self-in-the-s_2090102.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b4/toni-cade-bambara-14357_fashion_revolution-begins-with-the-self-in-the-s_2090102.jpg) > “Revolution begins with the self, in the self… We'd better take the time to fashion revolutionary selves, revolutionary lives, revolutionary relationships. Mouth don't win the war.” [Toni Cade Bambara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-cade-bambara/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Change starts inside each person; personal transformation fuels broader social revolution. **In simple terms:** Revolution begins with self change. Key Takeaway Cultivate personal growth to impact society. Themes self‑development social change identity agency Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - personal counseling - community organizing - education reform - activist training Key Concepts psychology political theory personal narrative Questions to Reflect On - How can individual growth translate into collective action? - What obstacles hinder personal transformation? A Different Perspective Personal change alone may not overcome structural barriers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fashion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fashion/) [Revolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revolution/) [Revolutionary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revolutionary/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [Winning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winning/) ## Related quotes > [Revolution begins with the self, in the self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-cade-bambara/revolution-begins-with-the-self-in-the-self/) [Toni Cade Bambara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-cade-bambara/) > [I think the most difficult love begins with one's self. How you treat yourself is something you bring to your relationships.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/javier-bardem/i-think-the-most-difficult-love-begins-with-one-s-self-how-you-treat/) [Javier Bardem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/javier-bardem/) > [Wise criticism always begins with self-criticism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-joshua-heschel/wise-criticism-always-begins-with-self-criticism/) [Abraham Joshua Heschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-joshua-heschel/) > [Religion, like all things, begins with self, And naught is known, until one knows himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/religion-like-all-things-begins-with-self-and-naught-is-known-until/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [Murder begins where self-defense ends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-b-chner/murder-begins-where-self-defense-ends/) [Georg Buchner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-b-chner/) > [The road back from degradation begins with self-awareness - and sometimes, as in 'Phone Booth,' change can begin with a single phone call.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-mitchell/the-road-back-from-degradation-begins-with-self-awareness-and/) [Elvis Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-mitchell/) > [You can't hate yourself happy, You can't criticize yourself thin, You can't shame yourself wealthy. Real change begins with self-love and self care.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-ortner/you-can-t-hate-yourself-happy-you-can-t-criticize-yourself-thin-you/) [Jessica Ortner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-ortner/) > [All self improvement begins with self growth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senoraroy/all-self-improvement-begins-with-self-growth/) Senoraroy > [“Greatness begins with self-belief. You are the beginning, the possibility, not the culmination of a final chapter.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-l-lewis/greatness-begins-with-self-belief-you-are-the-beginning-the/) [D.L. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-l-lewis/) > [The art of appreciation begins with self appreciation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-art-of-appreciation-begins-with-self-appreciation/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When we descend all the way down to the bottom of loss, and dwell patiently, with an open heart, in the darkness and pain,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-lesser/when-we-descend-all-the-way-down-to-the-bottom-of-loss-and-dwell/) [Elizabeth Lesser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-lesser/) > [Most people have a time-bound awareness. And the reason is they have sacrificed their self for their self-image.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/most-people-have-a-time-bound-awareness-and-the-reason-is-they-have/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [I have begun to think of life as a series of ripples widening out from an original center. In a way, no matter how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-have-begun-to-think-of-life-as-a-series-of-ripples-widening-out/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The best thing about my writing is that it makes me feel alive again. If I am going to be obsessed with self, at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lloyd/the-best-thing-about-my-writing-is-that-it-makes-me-feel-alive-again/) [David Lloyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lloyd/) > [The Self in you is the same as the Self Universal. Whatever powers are manifested throughout the world, those powers exist in germ, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-besant/the-self-in-you-is-the-same-as-the-self-universal-whatever-powers-are/) [Annie Besant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-besant/) ## More by Toni Cade Bambara > [... in a capitalist society a man is expected to be an aggressive, uncompromising, factual, lusty, intelligent provider of goods,and the woman, a retiring,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-cade-bambara/in-a-capitalist-society-a-man-is-expected-to-be-an-aggressive/) [Toni Cade Bambara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-cade-bambara/) > [Old folks are the nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-cade-bambara/old-folks-are-the-nation/) [Toni Cade Bambara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-cade-bambara/) > [And what is religion, you might ask. It's a technology of living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-cade-bambara/and-what-is-religion-you-might-ask-it-s-a-technology-of-living/) [Toni Cade Bambara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-cade-bambara/) > [My responsibility to myself, my neighbors, my family and the human family is to try to tell the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-cade-bambara/my-responsibility-to-myself-my-neighbors-my-family-and-the-human/) [Toni Cade Bambara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-cade-bambara/) > [An artist represents an oppressed people and makes revolution irresistible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-cade-bambara/an-artist-represents-an-oppressed-people-and-makes-revolution/) [Toni Cade Bambara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-cade-bambara/) > [Writing is one of the ways I participate in transformation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-cade-bambara/writing-is-one-of-the-ways-i-participate-in-transformation/) [Toni Cade Bambara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-cade-bambara/) > [Medication without explanation is obscene.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-cade-bambara/medication-without-explanation-is-obscene/) [Toni Cade Bambara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-cade-bambara/) > [The dream is real, my friends. The failure to realize it is the only unreality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-cade-bambara/the-dream-is-real-my-friends-the-failure-to-realize-it-is-the-only/) [Toni Cade Bambara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-cade-bambara/) > [I tend to agree that celibacy for a time is worth considering, for sex is dirty if all it means is winning a man,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-cade-bambara/i-tend-to-agree-that-celibacy-for-a-time-is-worth-considering-for-sex/) [Toni Cade Bambara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-cade-bambara/) > [“I am one beautiful and powerful son of a bitch,' he told himself. 'Smart as a whip, respected, prosperous, beloved and valuable. I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-cade-bambara/i-am-one-beautiful-and-powerful-son-of-a-bitch-he-told-himself-smart/) [Toni Cade Bambara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-cade-bambara/) > [The job of the writer is to make revolution irresistible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-cade-bambara/the-job-of-the-writer-is-to-make-revolution-irresistible/) [Toni Cade Bambara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-cade-bambara/) > [There are times ... when any visitor - in person, by phone, by mail - is an intruder, a burglar, a space hogger, an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-cade-bambara/there-are-times-when-any-visitor-in-person-by-phone-by-mail-is-an/) [Toni Cade Bambara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-cade-bambara/) > [“As a culture worker who belongs to an oppressed people my job is to make revolution irresistible.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-cade-bambara/as-a-culture-worker-who-belongs-to-an-oppressed-people-my-job-is-to/) [Toni Cade Bambara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-cade-bambara/) > [TAKE HEART TO FLAT OUT DECIDE TO BE WELL AND STRIDE INTO THE FUTURE, SANE AND WHOLE](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-cade-bambara/take-heart-to-flat-out-decide-to-be-well-and-stride-into-the-future/) [Toni Cade Bambara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-cade-bambara/) > [It's a dismally lonely business, writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-cade-bambara/it-s-a-dismally-lonely-business-writing/) [Toni Cade Bambara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-cade-bambara/) [Explore all 47 Toni Cade Bambara quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-cade-bambara/) ## More Fashion quotes > [“I can either be a victim—or a winner. Fuck victimhood. I don’t wear it well; it clashes with my wardrobe.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/i-can-either-be-a-victim-or-a-winner-fuck-victimhood-i-don-t-wear-it/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [Personal Style comes from within. It's when the woman, her individuality and spirit come through. She uses clothes to express who she is and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-karan/personal-style-comes-from-within-it-s-when-the-woman-her/) [Donna Karan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-karan/) > [There are various orders of beauty, causing men to make fools of themselves in various styles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/there-are-various-orders-of-beauty-causing-men-to-make-fools-of/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [I'm a business first and foremost so whatever my business is, it's separate from my personal. It's like whatever I do business wise, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/i-m-a-business-first-and-foremost-so-whatever-my-business-is-it-s/) [Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/) > [To me, the beauty of a quilt or a dress lies within the stitches and the thought of the person who made them. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie/to-me-the-beauty-of-a-quilt-or-a-dress-lies-within-the-stitches-and/) [Natalie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie/) > [A lesser complaint: hair extensions. There are moments on 'All My Children' when half the women actors, young and old, seem to be afflicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/a-lesser-complaint-hair-extensions-there-are-moments-on-all-my/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [Never in a million years would I imagine Calvin Klein flying me out to my first men's fashion show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cameron-dallas/never-in-a-million-years-would-i-imagine-calvin-klein-flying-me-out/) [Cameron Dallas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cameron-dallas/) > [Be neither too early in the fashion, nor too long out of it, nor too precisely in it; what custom hath civilized is become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/be-neither-too-early-in-the-fashion-nor-too-long-out-of-it-nor-too/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-didn-t-want-to-do-fashion-police-because-i-thought-this-is-stupid/) [Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/) > [No one knows whom the shoe pinches - no one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sholom-aleichem/no-one-knows-whom-the-shoe-pinches-no-one/) [Sholom Aleichem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sholom-aleichem/) > [Every man must wear out at least one pair of fools shoes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-derr-biggers/every-man-must-wear-out-at-least-one-pair-of-fools-shoes/) [Earl Derr Biggers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-derr-biggers/) > [I have always been too round to do fashion shows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heidi-klum/i-have-always-been-too-round-to-do-fashion-shows/) [Heidi Klum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heidi-klum/) > [My friend made me a leather dress for the MTV awards. It gives you confidence, wearing something you love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-deeley/my-friend-made-me-a-leather-dress-for-the-mtv-awards-it-gives-you/) [Cat Deeley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-deeley/) > [I've retired my sneakers for stilettos, baby!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivica-a-fox/i-ve-retired-my-sneakers-for-stilettos-baby/) [Vivica A. Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivica-a-fox/) [Browse all 19,830 Fashion quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fashion/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Revolution begins with the self, in the self… We'd better take the time to fashion revolutionary selves, revolutionary lives, revolutionary relationships. 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