--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: She told them that the only grace they…" description: "\"“She told them that the only grace they could have was the grace they could imagine. That if they could not see it, they would not have it. \"Here,\" she..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02b/toni-morrison-271_bare-feet_she-told-them-that-the-only-grace-they-c_3218116.jpg" --- # She told them that the only grace they could have was the… ![“She told them that the only grace they could have was the grace they could imagine. That if they could not see it, they would not have it. "Here," she said, "in this here place, we flesh; flesh that weeps, laughs; flesh that dances on bare feet in grass. Love it. Love it hard. Yonder they do not…” quote by Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02b/toni-morrison-271_bare-feet_she-told-them-that-the-only-grace-they-c_3218116.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02b/toni-morrison-271_bare-feet_she-told-them-that-the-only-grace-they-c_3218116.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02b/toni-morrison-271_bare-feet_she-told-them-that-the-only-grace-they-c_3218116.jpg) > ““She told them that the only grace they could have was the grace they could imagine. That if they could not see it, they would not have it. "Here," she said, "in this here place, we flesh; flesh that weeps, laughs; flesh that dances on bare feet in grass. Love it. Love it hard. Yonder they do not love your flesh. They despise it. They don’t love your eyes; they'd just as soon pick em out. No more do they love the skin on your back. Yonder they flay it. And O my people they do not love your hands. Those they only use, tie, bind, chop off and leave empty. Love your hands! Love them. Raise them up and kiss them. Touch others with them, pat them together, stroke them on your face 'cause they don't love that either. You got to love it, you! And no, they ain't in love with your mouth. Yonder, out there, they will see it broken and break it again. What you say out of it they will not heed. What you scream from it they do not hear. What you put into it to nourish your body they will snatch away and give you leavins instead. No, they don't love your mouth. You got to love it. This is flesh I'm talking about here. Flesh that needs to be loved. Feet that need to rest and to dance; backs that need support; shoulders that need arms, strong arms I'm telling you. And O my people, out yonder, hear me, they do not love your neck unnoosed and straight. So love your neck; put a hand on it, grace it, stroke it and hold it up. And all your inside parts that they'd just as soon slop for hogs, you got to love them. The dark, dark liver--love it, love it, and the beat and beating heart, love that too. More than eyes or feet.More than lungs that have yet to draw free air. More than your life holding womb and your life-giving private parts, hear me now, love your heart. For this is the prize." Saying no more, she stood up then and danced with her twisted hip the rest of what her heart had to say while the others opened heir mouths and gave her the music.”” [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She urges radical self‑love of every body part, confronting societal rejection and urging empowerment through acceptance. **In simple terms:** Love every part of yourself despite external hate. Key Takeaway Embrace and celebrate your whole self. Themes self‑love body positivity empowerment Mood defiant reflective Type poetic philosophical When to use this quote - personal trauma - social marginalization - mental health - artistic expression Key Concepts identity resilience healing Questions to Reflect On - Which parts of yourself do you struggle to accept? - How can community support body positivity? A Different Perspective Self‑love can be hindered by systemic oppression. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bare feet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bare-feet/) [Beating Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beating-heart/) [Grace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grace/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) ## Related quotes > [“In this here place, we flesh; flesh that weeps, laughs; flesh that dances on bare feet in grass. Love it. Love it hard. 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You — poor and obscure, and small and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/you-you-strange-you-almost-unearthly-thing-i-love-as-my-own-flesh-you/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [“THE SPIRIT OF SEX The faintest cry is loosened from her in a lucid expression that does announce her bestirring itch for me. Over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luccini-shurod/the-spirit-of-sex-the-faintest-cry-is-loosened-from-her-in-a-lucid/) [Luccini Shurod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luccini-shurod/) > [Serviceis love in action, love "made flesh"; service is the body, the incarnation of love. Love is the impetus, service the act, and creativity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-patton-boyle/serviceis-love-in-action-love-made-flesh-service-is-the-body-the/) [Sarah-Patton Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-patton-boyle/) > [I love the flesh. I'm a pagan. "Who are they who speak evil of the clay? The very stars are made of clay like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-london/i-love-the-flesh-i-m-a-pagan-who-are-they-who-speak-evil-of-the-clay/) [Jack London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-london/) > [THE ONES YOU THINK SHOULD ALWAYS LOVE YOU NO MATTER WHAT ARE THE ONE'S WHO COULD CARE LESS ABOUT ANYTHING ABOUT YOU.. IT'S FUCKED…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/the-ones-you-think-should-always-love-you-no-matter-what-are-the-one/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [No one should have to pay for love in flesh or blood. (Acheron)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/no-one-should-have-to-pay-for-love-in-flesh-or-blood-acheron/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [“You're not sure? Look at your own fingers. Are you not sure, if they are yours? Look at any part of you - it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-waters/you-re-not-sure-look-at-your-own-fingers-are-you-not-sure-if-they-are/) [Sarah Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-waters/) > [Inordinate love for the flesh is cruelty, because under the appearance of pleasing the body, we kill the soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-of-clairvaux/inordinate-love-for-the-flesh-is-cruelty-because-under-the-appearance/) [Bernard of Clairvaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-of-clairvaux/) > [“Orafoura, The Mythical Mr. Boo, and Love made flesh walk into a bar, and the bartender asks, “What’ll it be, fellas?” Orafoura replies, “Love.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/orafoura-the-mythical-mr-boo-and-love-made-flesh-walk-into-a-bar-and/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) ## More by Toni Morrison > [Perhaps that's what all human relationships boiled down to: Would you save my life? or would you take it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/perhaps-that-s-what-all-human-relationships-boiled-down-to-would-you/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [There, in the center of that silence was not eternity but the death of time and a loneliness so profound the word itself had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/there-in-the-center-of-that-silence-was-not-eternity-but-the-death-of/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [In times of dread, artists must never choose to remain silent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/in-times-of-dread-artists-must-never-choose-to-remain-silent/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [“Not know it was hard;knowing it was harder”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/not-know-it-was-hard-knowing-it-was-harder/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [“Didn’t everything on God’s earth have or acquire defense?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/didn-t-everything-on-god-s-earth-have-or-acquire-defense/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [If you can't count, they can cheat you. If you can't read, they can beat you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/if-you-can-t-count-they-can-cheat-you-if-you-can-t-read-they-can-beat/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [“You looked at them and wondered why the were so ugly; you looked closely and could not find the source. Then you realized that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/you-looked-at-them-and-wondered-why-the-were-so-ugly-you-looked/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [All she saw, down in the cellar well beneath the stoop, was a light yellow feather with a tip of green. And she had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/all-she-saw-down-in-the-cellar-well-beneath-the-stoop-was-a-light/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [For me, Art is the restoration of order. 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Its threat gave her direction, clarity, audacity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/she-was-fierce-in-the-presence-of-death-heroic-even-as-she-was-at-no/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) [Explore all 774 Toni Morrison quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) ## More Bare feet quotes > [“Her. Her. Her. Future breezes implore me to stay. But I'm no future. I'm no past. Only ever contemporary of this path. I'll sacrifice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-z-danielewski/her-her-her-future-breezes-implore-me-to-stay-but-i-m-no-future-i-m/) [Mark Z. Danielewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-z-danielewski/) > [Because I'm on my own on stage and wear bare feet and look like a pixie, people always think I'm little.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-minchin/because-i-m-on-my-own-on-stage-and-wear-bare-feet-and-look-like-a/) [Tim Minchin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-minchin/) > [The first four months of writing the book, my mental image is scratching with my hands through granite. My other image is pushing a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-higgins-clark/the-first-four-months-of-writing-the-book-my-mental-image-is/) [Mary Higgins Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-higgins-clark/) > [“I don't understand, Jenna, why you couldn't give him a ride home?" 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Warren—who had once, a long time ago, been a cowboy—snickered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-briggs/a-cowboy-a-lawyer-and-a-mechanic-watched-queen-of-the-damned-i/) [Patricia Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-briggs/) > [“Later they went outside, where a light rain was blowing in, mixed with salt spray feathering off the surf. Shasta wandered slowly down to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-pynchon/later-they-went-outside-where-a-light-rain-was-blowing-in-mixed-with/) [Thomas Pynchon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-pynchon/) > [“I know part of the problem, of course. The disorientation, the distraction, the difficulty focusing-all classic Phase one signs of deliria. But I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/i-know-part-of-the-problem-of-course-the-disorientation-the/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) [Browse all 216 Bare feet quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bare-feet/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“She told them that the only grace they could have was the grace they could imagine. That if they could not see it, they would not have it. \"Here,\" she said, \"in this here place, we flesh; flesh that weeps, laughs; flesh that dances on bare feet in grass. Love it. Love it hard. Yonder they do not love your flesh. They despise it. They don’t love your eyes; they'd just as soon pick em out. No more do they love the skin on your back. Yonder they flay it. And O my people they do not love your hands. Those they only use, tie, bind, chop off and leave empty. Love your hands! Love them. Raise them up and kiss them. Touch others with them, pat them together, stroke them on your face 'cause they don't love that either. You got to love it, you! And no, they ain't in love with your mouth. Yonder, out there, they will see it broken and break it again. What you say out of it they will not heed. What you scream from it they do not hear. What you put into it to nourish your body they will snatch away and give you leavins instead. No, they don't love your mouth. You got to love it. This is flesh I'm talking about here. Flesh that needs to be loved. Feet that need to rest and to dance; backs that need support; shoulders that need arms, strong arms I'm telling you. And O my people, out yonder, hear me, they do not love your neck unnoosed and straight. So love your neck; put a hand on it, grace it, stroke it and hold it up. And all your inside parts that they'd just as soon slop for hogs, you got to love them. The dark, dark liver--love it, love it, and the beat and beating heart, love that too. More than eyes or feet.More than lungs that have yet to draw free air. More than your life holding womb and your life-giving private parts, hear me now, love your heart. For this is the prize.\" Saying no more, she stood up then and danced with her twisted hip the rest of what her heart had to say while the others opened heir mouths and gave her the music.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Toni Morrison" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/she-told-them-that-the-only-grace-they-could-have-was-the-grace-they/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bare feet" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/she-told-them-that-the-only-grace-they-could-have-was-the-grace-they/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02b/toni-morrison-271_bare-feet_she-told-them-that-the-only-grace-they-c_3218116.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02b/toni-morrison-271_bare-feet_she-told-them-that-the-only-grace-they-c_3218116.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02b/toni-morrison-271_bare-feet_she-told-them-that-the-only-grace-they-c_3218116.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“She told them that the only grace they could have was the grace they could imagine. 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