Cate (with calm conviction):
There’s a kind of courage in art—a quiet one. It doesn’t always roar. Sometimes, it simply refuses to be small.
[The audience leans in.]
Cate:
We live in a world that rushes us to choose sides. To speak fast. To tweet faster. But I believe in the pause. In reflection. In saying, “I don’t know yet,” and allowing that to be enough.
[Applause begins to ripple.]
Cate (softly):
If storytelling has taught me anything, it’s this: the more we listen, the more human we become. And right now, humanity is the most radical thing we can practice.
[A beat. Silence. Then—strong, rising applause. Standing ovation.]
Cate (smiling):
Thank you for not just hearing me—but for listening.
