I was practically driven to Rome in order to obtain the opportunities for art culture and to find a social atmosphere where I was not constantly reminded of my color. The land of liberty had no room for a colored sculptor.
Edmonia LewisRead
I don't want you to praise me...Some praise me because I am a colored girl, and I don't want that kind of praise. I had rather you would point out my defects, for that will teach me something.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The speaker values constructive criticism over superficial praise, highlighting the importance of self-improvement.
In this quote, Edmonia Lewis expresses a desire for genuine feedback rather than empty praise, particularly based on her identity as a colored girl. She emphasizes that acknowledging flaws can lead to personal growth and learning, valuing substance over superficial recognition.
Themes
CriticismPraiseSelf-ImprovementGrowthIdentity
In practice
Example use cases
In a workshop on personal development, this quote can be used to encourage participants to embrace feedback.
More from Edmonia Lewis
All quotes →Similar quotes
...because in a way it happened to someone else. I don't really speak that person's language anymore, and when I think about her, she embarrasses me sometimes, but I don't want to forget her, I don't want to pretend she never existed. So before I start forgetting, I have to get down exactly who she was, and exactly how she felt about everything. She was me a lot longer than I've been me so far.
Peter S. BeagleRead
Human beings are never to be treated as a means but always as ends.
Immanuel KantRead
The reason why life is a sleep & dream for most people is because their awareness is caught up with past or future & not with what is.
Deepak ChopraRead
Behold now this vast city [London]; a city of refuge, the mansion-house of liberty, encompassed and surrounded with His protection.
John MiltonRead
I wasn't scared; I was just somebody else, some stranger, and my whole life was a haunted life, the life of a ghost.
Jack KerouacRead
If a slave is unwilling to go with his new master, he is whipped, or locked up in jail, until he consents to go, and promises not to run away during the year.
Harriet Ann JacobsRead