This concise quote argues that while speaking out carries risks, remaining silent in the face of injustice or oppression is even more perilous. It emphasizes the critical importance of vocalizing truths, despite potential consequences, to prevent greater harm or complicity.
Quote by Luisa Valenzuela: “La palabra es peligrosa. Pero el silencio, más.”
La palabra es peligrosa. Pero el silencio, más.
Insight
Historical Context
This statement reflects the intense scrutiny and censorship faced by writers during Argentina's military dictatorship. For Valenzuela and many others, speaking or writing openly was dangerous, yet silence was seen as surrendering to oppression, a dilemma at the heart of their resistance.
About the Author
Argentine novelist and journalist whose experimental fiction confronted the violence and repression of Argentina's military dictatorship. Her novel Cola de lagartija, published in 1983, directly engaged with the psychological terror of the Dirty War era.
View all quotes by Luisa Valenzuela