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Quote by Terry Tempest Williams

“There is comfort in keeping what is sacred inside us not as a secret, but as a prayer.”

Book:When Women Were Birds: Fifty-four Variations on Voice

Work

When Women Were Birds: Fifty-four Variations on Voice

This collection of poetry delves into the diverse narratives and perspectives of women across different eras, reflecting on themes of identity, resilience, and the human condition. more

Author

Terry Tempest Williams

Terry Tempest Williams is an American author known for her profound insights into the relationship between humans and nature. Her works often explore themes such as environmental protection, feminism, and identity. more

“When I am in a situation where I feel uncomfortable about speaking but it is necessary for me to speak, or if I feel 'put on the spot' my voice sounds strained, really weird, and it feels as if I have no control over how I sound in these situations. Sometimes then my voice is barely audible and I am frequently asked to repeat myself. Attempts at speaking are often embarrassing, shaming experiences for me. I sound quite different when speaking with someone I am more relaxed with, but I don't like the way my voice sounds at the best of times; I was horrified when I heard a recording of myself. Because of this inhibition about speaking, I have never learned to project my voice or to use it effectively. I often feel that I could no more use my vocal cords to break a silence, to get somebody's attention or to initiate an interaction than I could run through fire or do something dangerous in my life.”

Voice Silence Shame Speaking Inhibition

Book:Selective Mutism In Our Own Words: Experiences in Childhood and Adulthood

Source: Selective Mutism In Our Own Words: Experiences in Childhood and Adulthood

“I did not speak. I have found in any Q&A, in court, in witness interviews, wherever, often the best thing you can do is wait, say nothing. The witness will want to fill the awkward silence. He will feel a vague compassion to keep talking, to prove he is not holding back, to prove he is smart and in the know, to earn your trust.”

Silence Courtroom Drama

Book:Defending Jacob

Source: Defending Jacob

“In the summer, on fine evenings, I love to drive late and alone in the scented forests, and when I have reached a dark part stop, and sit quite still, listening to the nightingales repeating their little tune over and over aga^n after interludes of gurgling, or if there are no nightingales, listening to the marvellous silence, and letting its blessedness descend into my very souL The nightingales in the forests about here all sing the same tune, and in the same key of (E flat).”

Silence

Author:Elizabeth von Arnim

“The silence wasn't like the ones I'd known lately, though; it wasn't empty so much as chosen. There's an entirely different feel to quiet when you're with someone else, and at any moment it could be broken. Like the difference between a pause and an ending.”