Dorothy Allison Quotes

I need you to do more than survive. As writers, as revolutionaries, tell the truth, your truth in your own way.

The only thing I've ever regretted is not writing more; not being more honest; not saying how it really is in Baghdad. It's hard to get there sometimes.

I cannot and do not live in the world of discretion, not as a writer, anyway. I would prefer to, I assure you - it would make life easier. But discretion is, unfortunately, not for novelists.

If the writing is honest it cannot be separated from the man who wrote it.

I'm a writer. My job is to speak what - that which I think is true. If that bridges the gap, that's good. If it doesn't, that's too bad.

If you're going to be transparent, you're going to have to let the music come that wants to come.

As an artist, everybody has the opportunity to celebrate and speak their truth.

A musicians or artists responsibility is a simple one, and that is, through your music to tell the truth.

Autobiography is not important. Authenticity is important. The writer must fire herself through the text, be the molten stuff that welds together disparate elements. I believe there is always exposure, vulnerability, in the writing process, which is not to say it is either confessional or memoir. Simply, it is real.

To be an artist, one must . . . never shirk from the truth as he understands it, never withdraw from life

My gift to my children would be from me to be as honest and true to myself as an artist, and put that out there to the best of my ability.

You have to let people express themselves in the way that they need to express themselves. You have to express yourself in any way possible, provided you're prepared to live with the consequences.

Good writing is often about letting go of fear and affectation. Affectation itself, beginning with the need to define some sorts of writing as 'good' and other sorts as 'bad' is fearful behavior.

I've gotten to the point where I realize that I need to tell my truth in music and not walk around blabbing my mind.

I suppose maybe [Wilson] would be a better person if he were able to censor himself, but then he wouldn't be as interesting.

I am quite certain in my heart of hearts that modern music and modern art is not a conspiracy, but is a form of truth and integrity for those who practise it honestly, decently and with all their being.

What's the point of a song if you can't be honest?

I've always done everything at my disposal to avoid labeling what I do, or to avoid being labeled myself.

When you eliminate vanity from an art form, and I would think that this would be any art form, what is left is an opportunity to be incredibly naked and truthful.

I'm not scared about saying what I think.

Music to me is about being honest, and it's what I've always pictured music as. I don't see the point of expressing yourself if you are going to be cryptic about it.

I want that every piece of art be honest, never mind what it is about.

For a creative writer possession of the 'truth' is less important than emotional sincerity.

I say whatever I think and whatever is on my mind, and I just hope that it comes out good. I just try to have a lot of fun.

Singing is about telling a story. When you are onstage, you get to be your own self... When acting, you're someone else.