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Lorraine Hansberry Quotes

17 Motivational Quotes By Lorraine Hansberry Who Left A Lasting Legacy

Famous As: Writer, Theatre director, Screenwriter, Playwright, Human rights activist

Born On: May 19, 1930

Died On: January 12, 1965

Born In: Chicago, Illinois, United States

Died At Age: 34

Lorraine Hansberry was a distinguished American writer and author. She was the first African-American female author who had a play staged on ‘Broadway.’ She is renowned for ‘A Raisin in the Sun,’ the play that reflects the lives of ‘Black Americans’ who stayed in Chicago under racial segregation. She was the fifth woman, the youngest playwright and the first Africa-American to receive the ‘New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award.’ Her writings also talked about her lesbianism and the maltreatment of homosexuality. Following is a corpus of famous quotes by Lorraine Hansberry, which have been curated from her plays, writings, interviews, and books. Let us browse through the sayings by Lorraine Hansberry and see what we can learn from them.

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Writers

Activists

The thing that makes you exceptional, if you are at all, is inevitably that which must also make you lonely.

The thing that makes you exceptional, if you are at all, is inevitably that which must also make you lonely.
You
Lorraine Hansberry

Never be afraid to sit awhile and think.

Never be afraid to sit awhile and think.
Think Never
Lorraine Hansberry

There is always something left to love. And if you ain’t learned that, you ain’t learned nothing.

There is always something left to love. And if you ain’t learned that, you ain’t learned nothing.
You Love
Lorraine Hansberry

I want to fly! I want to touch the sun!" "Finish your eggs first.
I
Lorraine Hansberry

It's dangerous, son." "What's dangerous?" "When a man goes outside his house to look for peace.
Peace
Lorraine Hansberry

Beneatha: You didn't tell us what Alaiyo means... for all I know, you might be calling me Little Idiot or something...
...
Asagai: It means... it means One for Whom Bread--Food--Is Not Enough.

Beneatha: You didn't tell us what Alaiyo means... for all I know, you might be calling me Little Idiot or something... ... Asagai: It means... it means One for Whom Bread--Food--Is Not Enough.
You Me I
Lorraine Hansberry

Mama--Mama--I want so many things... I want so many things that they are driving me kind of crazy...

Mama--Mama--I want so many things... I want so many things that they are driving me kind of crazy...
Me I
Lorraine Hansberry

That's what being eccentric means--being natural.

That's what being eccentric means--being natural.
Lorraine Hansberry

[Beneatha Younger:]... He said everybody ought to learn how to sit down and hate each other with good Chrisitan fellowship.

[excerpt from Act II, Scene 3]

[Beneatha Younger:]... He said everybody ought to learn how to sit down and hate each other with good Chrisitan fellowship. [excerpt from Act II, Scene 3]
Lorraine Hansberry

Perhaps I will be a great man...I mean perhaps I will hold on to the substance of truth and find my way always with the right course

Perhaps I will be a great man...I mean perhaps I will hold on to the substance of truth and find my way always with the right course
Will I
Lorraine Hansberry

DAMN MY EGGS! DAMN ALL THE EGGS THAT EVER WAS!

DAMN MY EGGS! DAMN ALL THE EGGS THAT EVER WAS!" -Wilson
Lorraine Hansberry

Our Southside is a place apart: each piece of our living is a protest.

Our Southside is a place apart: each piece of our living is a protest.
Living
Lorraine Hansberry

Something always told me I wasn't no rich white woman.

Something always told me I wasn't no rich white woman.
Me I
Lorraine Hansberry

For above all, in behalf of an ailing world which sorely needs our defiance, may we, as Negroes or women, never accept the notion of -

For above all, in behalf of an ailing world which sorely needs our defiance, may we, as Negroes or women, never accept the notion of - "our place.
Never Women
Lorraine Hansberry

Seem like God didn't see fit to give the black man nothing but dreams -but He did give us children to make them dreams seem worth while.

Seem like God didn't see fit to give the black man nothing but dreams -but He did give us children to make them dreams seem worth while.
God Like Children Dreams
Lorraine Hansberry