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The cultural bias of the translator inevitably shapes his or her perception of the materials being translated, often in ways that he or she is unaware of. Culture is fundamentally a shaper of perception, after all, and perception is shaped by culture in many subtle ways. In short, it’s hard to see the forest when you’re a tree.

— Paula Gunn Allen The Sacred Hoop (1986)

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More quotes by Paula Gunn Allen

Black, the color of the West, of truth, revelation, and abomination.

It’s hard to see the forest when you’re a tree.

The power of imagination, of image, which is the fundamental power of literature, is the power to determine a people’s fate.

The Sacred Hoop (1986)

All tales are born in the mind of Spider Woman, and all creation exists as a result of her naming.

The Sacred Hoop (1986)

One’s emotions are one’s own; to suggest that others should imitate them is to impose on the personal integrity of others.

The Sacred Hoop (1986)

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Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: Paula Gunn Allen (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.