"A lady, that is an enlightened, cultivated, liberal lady - the only kind to be in a time of increasing classlessness - could espouse any cause: wayward girls, social diseases, unmarried mothers, and/or birth control with impunity. But never by so much as the shadow of a look should she acknowledge her own experience with the Facts of Life."
About Virgilia Peterson
Virgilia Peterson — Life and Legacy
Virgilia Peterson was a significant figure in American literature, recognized for her powerful exploration of race and identity. Her works often reflect her own struggles and the broader societal issues of her time, making her insights particularly resonant. One of her notable quotes, 'The greatest thing is to be yourself,' encapsulates her belief in the importance of authenticity amidst societal pressures. This idea of self-acceptance is a recurring theme in her writing, challenging readers to embrace their true selves despite external expectations. Peterson's core thinking revolves around the intersection of personal and collective experiences, particularly in the context of racial identity. Her quote, 'We are all of us stars, and we deserve to twinkle,' serves as a reminder of the inherent worth of every individual, urging people to recognize their unique contributions to the world. Through her literary voice, she not only articulated her own experiences but also gave voice to the struggles of many, advocating for resilience and empowerment. Today, her quotes and ideas continue to resonate, offering insights into the complexities of identity and the importance of resilience in the face of adversity. Peterson's work remains a vital part of discussions around race and personal identity, inspiring new generations to reflect on their own journeys and the societal structures that shape them.
Quote collection
Virgilia Peterson quotes
10 quotes — follow a thought to its full quote page.
"Were marriage no more than a convenient screen for sexuality, some less cumbersome and costly protection must have been found by this time to replace it. One concludes therefore that people do not marry to cohabit; they cohabit to marry. They do not seek freedom to rut so much as they seek the rut of wedlock."
"Not only are there as many conflicting truths as there are people to claim them; there are equally multitudinous and conflicting truths within the individual."
"Love by its presence, like God by His, makes everything not necessarily clear or right or even good, but acceptable. Whereas in its absence, as in His, there is no hope."
"Words have their genealogy, their history, their economy, their literature, their art and music, as too they have their weddings and divorces, their successes and defeats, their fevers, their undiagnosable ailments, their sudden deaths. They also have their moral and social distinctions."
"There is no plummet to sound another's soul."
"I can understand that memory must be selective, else it would choke on the glut of experience. What I cannot understand is why it selects what it does."
"Perhaps it is the expediency in the political eye that blinds it."
"In Reno, there is always a bull market, never a bear market, for the stocks and bonds of happiness."
"However often marriage is dissolved, it remains indissoluble. Real divorce, the divorce of the heart and nerve and fiber, does not exist, since there is no divorce from memory."