Stand up for your rights and be brave, and don't be intimidated.

Margaret Keane, the painter whose wide-eyed portraits stirred both controversy and wonder, once said: “Stand up for your rights and be brave, and don’t be intimidated. Read your Bible. That’s really given me strength, and it will give you strength. Pray, and use God’s name, Jehovah. And never tell a lie, ever.” These words are not merely counsel; they are the testament of a woman who endured betrayal, falsehood, and suppression, yet emerged victorious through her faith, her courage, and her truth. Her life gives weight to her words, and her words carry the timeless ring of ancient wisdom.

The origin of this quote lies in Keane’s own life story. For years, her husband claimed authorship of her paintings, taking the glory of her labor while she remained hidden. She lived under the weight of deception, forced to deny her own identity. Yet in the end, she chose to stand up for her rights, to endure the trials of courtrooms and public scorn, and to reveal the truth. She emerged vindicated, her courage proving that even against intimidation, a steadfast spirit cannot be silenced. Thus her counsel is born of experience: to be brave, even when fear presses hard against the soul.

Her call to read the Bible and pray speaks to the ancient truth that strength of flesh is fleeting, but strength of spirit is eternal. She names Jehovah, invoking the God who in Scripture sustained prophets in exile, shepherds in danger, and widows in despair. Just as David stood against Goliath not with sword alone but with trust in the Lord, Keane endured her own giant—the towering lies that sought to bury her identity. In this way, her faith was her shield, her prayer her sword, and truth her victory.

And her warning—“never tell a lie, ever”—is not to be taken lightly. She herself was imprisoned in falsehood, forced into silence while another claimed her art. Lies corrode the soul, and though they may seem to grant temporary gain, they wither the one who speaks them and enslave the one who lives by them. The ancients knew this well: in Plato’s allegories, truth was the light of the sun, while lies chained men in the dark cave of illusion. Keane’s words ring with that same eternal wisdom—that to live by truth, even when it hurts, is to live free.

History offers many examples of such courage. Think of Joan of Arc, who stood brave before kings and armies, guided by her faith and her voices, refusing to deny what she believed to be divine truth. Or consider Socrates, who refused to tell a lie about his philosophy, even when threatened with death, declaring that a life without truth is not worth living. In their defiance, as in Keane’s, we see the power of faith and honesty to outlast intimidation and injustice.

The lesson for us is profound: each of us will face moments when fear tempts us to stay silent, when lies whisper promises of safety, when intimidation urges us to bend. In such times, remember Keane’s words: stand up for your rights, root yourself in truth, and call upon the divine for strength. Read, pray, and act with courage, for in doing so you not only preserve your own soul but also give light to others who walk in darkness.

So let Margaret Keane’s counsel endure as teaching: Be brave, be honest, cling to faith, and never surrender to intimidation. For though the path of truth may be steep and lonely, it is the only path that leads to freedom. And know this: the power that sustained her through falsehood and trial is the same power that will sustain you—if only you will walk with courage, prayer, and truth.