I think the only choice that will enable us to hold to our vision. . . is one that abandons the concept of naming enemies and adopts a concept familiar to the nonviolent tradition: naming behavior that is oppressive . . .

Think first of the action that is right to take, think later about coping with one's fears.

We learn best to listen to our own voices if we are listening at the same time to other women -- whose stories, for all our differences, turn out, if we listen well, to be our stories also.

The longer we listen to one another - with real attention - the more commonality we will find in all our lives. That is, if we are careful to exchange with one another life stories and not simply opinions.

To resort to power one need not be violent, and to speak to conscience one need not be meek. The most effective action both resorts to power and engages conscience.

Vengeance is not the point; change is. But the trouble is that in most people's minds the thought of victory and the thought of punishing the enemy coincide.

I learned always to trust my own deep sense of what I should do, and not just obediently trust the judgment of others – even others better than I am.

Make it impossible for [the authority] to operate within the system as usual . . . making it impossible for him simply to strike back without thought and with all his strength.

Nonviolent actions does not have to get others to be nice. It can in effect force them to consult their consciences.