Poets are the leaven in the lump of civilization.

those who despair of life are not long for it.

Mistrust must be acted on, and effective action by the ruled is not solitary and singular, but joint and repeated.

we expect definitions to tell us not only what is, but what to do about it; to show us how the world fits together and how its different parts connect and work. ... A label is the first step toward action.

Love between women is seen as a paradigm of love between equals, and that is perhaps its greatest attraction.

We are in a double bind. We are expected to feel inferior not only as women, but because we are old.

This is the power of the powerful to define, to structure, to say, 'This is the way the world works.' It's enormous power. Among the powers of the weak, I think the first one is the power not to believe the powerful.