Gloria Jean Watkins, popularly known by her pen name “bell hooks,” is an American author, feminist, professor, and social activist.
She prefers to spell her pen name “bell hooks” in lower case letters to differentiate herself from her great-grandmother, which she adopted the name from. She said her great-grandmother was known for her bold tongue (which she admired), thus, the name.
Aside from that, hooks also wanted to divert the focus from herself—instead, she wanted the readers to focus more on her works and the essence of the books she wrote.
She has shaped the face of contemporary feminism for decades through her words, writings, and actions. She has also published over 30 books, and they explore how class, race, and gender shape our awareness and the social and cultural landscape around us.
Her writing style is straightforward yet powerful and is sure to inspire people of various age and gender. Here are the top 20 bell hooks quotes and sayings that showcase her views regarding life, people, and more.
Table of Contents
Quotes on Love
Love was at the center of bell hooks’ philosophy. She believed love is a transformative force for both individuals and society.
“Love is an action, never simply a feeling.”
—All About Love (2000)
“To love well is the task in all meaningful relationships, not just romantic bonds.”
—All About Love
“There can be no love without justice.”
—All About Love
hooks challenges us to see love as something we actively do—not just something we passively feel. Her words invite us to make love a guiding principle in our lives, relationships, and communities.
Quotes on Feminism & Gender
As a pioneering feminist, hooks expanded the definition of feminism beyond gender to include race, class, and justice for all.
“Feminism is for everybody.”
—Feminism Is for Everybody (2000)
“Being oppressed means the absence of choices.”
—Ain’t I a Woman: Black Women and Feminism (1981)
“Patriarchy has no gender.”
—Teaching Critical Thinking: Practical Wisdom (2010)
Her writing insists that feminism must be intersectional and inclusive, pushing readers to recognize all forms of oppression and the power of solidarity.
Quotes on Race & Social Justice
hooks never shied away from confronting racism and injustice, advocating for a more compassionate, equitable world.
“Life-transforming ideas have always come to me through books.”
—Remembered Rapture: The Writer at Work (1999)
“Without justice there can be no love.”
—All About Love
“I will not have my life narrowed down. I will not bow down to somebody else’s whim or to someone else’s ignorance.”
—Bone Black: Memories of Girlhood (1996)
These quotes reveal her lifelong commitment to justice, encouraging us to resist conformity and stand up for equality.
Quotes on Self-Empowerment & Healing
hooks offered powerful insights on self-worth, resilience, and the importance of healing from trauma.
“To be truly visionary we have to root our imagination in our concrete reality while simultaneously imagining possibilities beyond that reality.”
—Teaching Community: A Pedagogy of Hope (2003)
“Rarely, if ever, are any of us healed in isolation. Healing is an act of communion.”
—All About Love
“The moment we choose to love we begin to move towards freedom, to act in ways that liberate ourselves and others.”
—Outlaw Culture: Resisting Representations (1994)
These words remind us that healing and liberation are intertwined and best achieved in community with others.
Quotes on Education & Knowledge
As a teacher and thinker, hooks emphasized the power of education to liberate minds and societies.
“The classroom remains the most radical space of possibility in the academy.”
—Teaching to Transgress: Education as the Practice of Freedom (1994)
“Education as the practice of freedom affirms healthy self-esteem in students and encourages them to assume responsibility for themselves and others.”
—Teaching to Transgress
hooks inspires educators and learners alike to create classrooms where critical thinking, care, and freedom flourish.
Conclusion
bell hooks’ quotes are more than words—they are guiding lights for those seeking justice, connection, and personal growth. Her legacy challenges us to live with courage, compassion, and commitment to a better world.
