If someone had told me, don't say anything about Lillian Hellman because she'll sue you, it wouldn't have stopped me. It might have spurred me on.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- The speaker would not have been silenced by threats of legal action; instead, such threats might have motivated them to speak out more strongly.
- In plain terms
- Threats of lawsuits would not stop me; they might have encouraged me to speak anyway.
- What can you take from it?
- Fear of consequences can sometimes fuel defiance rather than silence.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- When has a threat made you more determined?
- Is silence ever the safer choice?
Another view
In reality, legal threats can be so damaging that they do silence people regardless of their courage.
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