The ability of writers to imagine what is not the self, to familiarize the strange and mystify the familiar, is the test of their power.

Quote by Toni Morrison

Topics: Imagination Quotes

When there is pain, there are no words. All pain is the same.

When there is pain, there are no words. All pain is the same.

Somebody has to take responsibility for being a leader.

Somebody has to take responsibility for being a leader.

Birth, life, and death -- each took place on the hidden side of a leaf

Birth, life, and death -- each took place on the hidden side of a leaf

If there's a book you really want to read but it hasn't been written yet,...

If there's a book you really want to read but it hasn't been written yet,...

Black people are victims of an enormous amount of violence. None of those things can...

Black people are victims of an enormous amount of violence. None of those things can...

Beloved, you are my sister, you are my daughter, you are my face; you are...

Beloved, you are my sister, you are my daughter, you are my face; you are...

She is a friend of mind. She gather me, man. The pieces I am, she...

She is a friend of mind. She gather me, man. The pieces I am, she...

In becoming an American, from Europe, what one has in common with that other immigrant...

In becoming an American, from Europe, what one has in common with that other immigrant...

Make a difference about something other than yourselves.

Make a difference about something other than yourselves.

If there's a book you really want to read but it hasn't been written yet,...

If there's a book you really want to read but it hasn't been written yet,...

Some Native American writers enjoy being called Native American writers.

Some Native American writers enjoy being called Native American writers.

I wrote my first novel because I wanted to read it.

I wrote my first novel because I wanted to read it.

Freeing yourself was one thing; claiming ownership of that freed self was another.

Freeing yourself was one thing; claiming ownership of that freed self was another.

When there is pain, there are no words. All pain is the same.

When there is pain, there are no words. All pain is the same.

A sister can be seen as someone who is both ourselves and very much not...

A sister can be seen as someone who is both ourselves and very much not...

In this country American means white. Everybody else has to hyphenate.

In this country American means white. Everybody else has to hyphenate.

You need a whole community to raise a child. I have raised two children, alone.

You need a whole community to raise a child. I have raised two children, alone.

I don't think anybody cares about unwed mothers unless they're black or poor. The question...

I don't think anybody cares about unwed mothers unless they're black or poor. The question...

You marvel at the economy and this choice of words. How many ways can you...

You marvel at the economy and this choice of words. How many ways can you...

One of my kids was born in 1968. There were going to be political difficulties,...

One of my kids was born in 1968. There were going to be political difficulties,...