"It is possible to be different and still be all right. There can be two - or more - answers to the same question, and all can be right"
About this Quote
The quote works by shifting the stakes from epistemology to belonging. “Two - or more - answers” isn’t only about factual questions; it’s about the daily interrogations people face: How do you grieve? How do you love? What does “success” look like? By framing plurality as normal, Schaef quietly attacks the binary logic that props up shame: if you’re not like us, you’re wrong; if you’re wrong, you’re unworthy. Her phrasing refuses that chain reaction.
There’s also a subtle boundary-setting embedded here. Saying multiple answers can be right doesn’t mean every claim is equally true in every domain; it’s an argument against coercive certainty, not against reality. The emphasis lands on relational life, where “rightness” is often code for control. Schaef’s intent is permission-giving, but the subtext is sharper: communities that can’t tolerate multiple right answers are communities built to punish deviation.
Quote Details
| Topic | Respect |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
| Cite |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Schaef, Anne Wilson. (2026, January 17). It is possible to be different and still be all right. There can be two - or more - answers to the same question, and all can be right. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/it-is-possible-to-be-different-and-still-be-all-43479/
Chicago Style
Schaef, Anne Wilson. "It is possible to be different and still be all right. There can be two - or more - answers to the same question, and all can be right." FixQuotes. January 17, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/it-is-possible-to-be-different-and-still-be-all-43479/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"It is possible to be different and still be all right. There can be two - or more - answers to the same question, and all can be right." FixQuotes, 17 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/it-is-possible-to-be-different-and-still-be-all-43479/. Accessed 9 Feb. 2026.





