All young people, regardless of sexual orientation or identity, deserve a safe and supportive environment in which to achieve their full potential.
Harvey MilkRead
If I do a good job, people won't care if I am green or have three heads.
Interpretation
Doing a good job is more important than one's appearance or differences.
Harvey Milk's quote emphasizes that the quality of one's work and contributions is what truly matters in life and society, rather than superficial attributes such as physical appearance or unique characteristics. It advocates for meritocracy and inclusivity, suggesting that when someone excels at their responsibilities, others will overlook personal differences and focus on the value provided.
In practice
In a speech about diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
All young people, regardless of sexual orientation or identity, deserve a safe and supportive environment in which to achieve their full potential.
Burst down those closet doors once and for all, and stand up and start to fight.
Rights are won only by those who make their voices heard.
If a bullet should enter my brain, let that bullet destroy every closet door in the country.
All over the country, they're reading about me, and the story doesn't center on me being gay. It's just about a gay person who is doing his job.
It's not my victory, it's yours and yours and yours. If a gay can win, it means there is hope that the system can work for all minorities if we fight. We've given them hope.
I will be a man among men; and no longer a dreamer among shadows. Henceforth be mine a life of action and reality! I will work in my own sphere, nor wish it other than it is. This alone is health and happiness.
The tragedy of life doesn't lie in not reaching your goal. The tragedy lies in having no goal to reach. It isn't a calamity to die with dreams unfulfilled, but it is a calamity not to dream...It is not a disgrace not to reach the stars, but it is a disgrace to have no stars to reach for. Not failure, but low aim is sin.
The key that unlocks energy is desire. It's also the key to a long and interesting life. If we expect to create any drive, any real force within ourselves, we have to get excited.
I always knew I was a writer. And I always thought to myself, 'Well, why not me?' Someone has to be on the best-seller list, 'Why not me?' Someone has to write for the 'New Yorker,' 'Why not me?' And I didn't really get much positive reinforcement as a kid, so I thought, 'Well let me show you what I can do.'
When you left the house today, you had the intention of putting clothes on and you did. You didn't try to put your pants on today. You simply put them on. The same has to hold for all of our intentions. We don't try to be more loving partners. We make the intention, and we act on it.
If you scared to take chances, you'll never have the answers...
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