And partly, the worst thing you could do in my family was need something from someone. So physical strength represented an avenue of self-sufficiency to me.

Quote by Alison Bechdel

Topics: Alison Bechdel Quotes

That's all true, but there was something else going on for me as a kid,...

That's all true, but there was something else going on for me as a kid,...

When I grew up, I studied karate for years. I got pretty strong, but eventually...

When I grew up, I studied karate for years. I got pretty strong, but eventually...

I just met someone who read Gone With the Wind 62 times for exactly that...

I just met someone who read Gone With the Wind 62 times for exactly that...

Sometimes I wish the writing and drawing were more integrated.

Sometimes I wish the writing and drawing were more integrated.

Well, I'm always working on my comic strip and trying to, you know, keep cranking...

Well, I'm always working on my comic strip and trying to, you know, keep cranking...

Even drawing gray hair at all is difficult to render in black and white.

Even drawing gray hair at all is difficult to render in black and white.

People really want to think that these things really happened. I don't know why that...

People really want to think that these things really happened. I don't know why that...

I never really read superhero stuff as a kid.

I never really read superhero stuff as a kid.

But mostly, it's a book about my relationship with my father.

But mostly, it's a book about my relationship with my father.

It's a hard thing to age a character because you can't really suddenly give someone...

It's a hard thing to age a character because you can't really suddenly give someone...

I love Jules Feiffer. I didn't discover him until I was a little older.

I love Jules Feiffer. I didn't discover him until I was a little older.

I probably read Harriet the Spy about 70,000 times.

I probably read Harriet the Spy about 70,000 times.

But I read comic books. I read things like Richie Rich and Little Lulu.

But I read comic books. I read things like Richie Rich and Little Lulu.

I get a lot of mail from men who really identify with Stuart, you know,...

I get a lot of mail from men who really identify with Stuart, you know,...

Yeah, I read Judy Blume. My mother didn't like that, but I read it anyhow.

Yeah, I read Judy Blume. My mother didn't like that, but I read it anyhow.

Partly I resented being perceived as weak because I was a girl.

Partly I resented being perceived as weak because I was a girl.

Nancy Drew was always changing her outfits. I despised girls' clothing, I couldn't wait to...

Nancy Drew was always changing her outfits. I despised girls' clothing, I couldn't wait to...

Writing this book feels like a completely different activity from writing my comic strip because...

Writing this book feels like a completely different activity from writing my comic strip because...

Mostly it was Mad magazine. And I did read a lot of - I had...

Mostly it was Mad magazine. And I did read a lot of - I had...

It's definitely part of it, that the men were having fun and doing the interesting...

It's definitely part of it, that the men were having fun and doing the interesting...