I saw my mother in a different light. We all need to do that. You have to be displaced from what's comfortable and routine, and then you get to see things with fresh eyes, with new eyes.

Quote by Amy Tan

Topics: Amy Tan Quotes

Placing on writers the responsibility to represent a culture is an onerous burden.

Placing on writers the responsibility to represent a culture is an onerous burden.

I am like a falling star who has finally found her place next to another...

I am like a falling star who has finally found her place next to another...

I would still like to have that luxury, to be able to just sit and...

I would still like to have that luxury, to be able to just sit and...

You can get sucked into the idea that, 'Gosh, this is impressive. Maybe I should...

You can get sucked into the idea that, 'Gosh, this is impressive. Maybe I should...

I started a second novel seven times and I had to throw them away.

I started a second novel seven times and I had to throw them away.

My mother said I was a clingy kid until I was about four. I also...

My mother said I was a clingy kid until I was about four. I also...

I was intelligent enough to make up my own mind. I not only had freedom...

I was intelligent enough to make up my own mind. I not only had freedom...

I thought I was clever enough to write as well as these people and I...

I thought I was clever enough to write as well as these people and I...

Writing is an extreme privilege but it's also a gift. It's a gift to yourself...

Writing is an extreme privilege but it's also a gift. It's a gift to yourself...

I have a writer's memory which makes everything worse than maybe it actually was.

I have a writer's memory which makes everything worse than maybe it actually was.

Who knows where inspiration comes from. Perhaps it arises from desperation. Perhaps it comes from...

Who knows where inspiration comes from. Perhaps it arises from desperation. Perhaps it comes from...

Memory feeds imagination.

Memory feeds imagination.

I didn't fear failure. I expected failure.

I didn't fear failure. I expected failure.

My parents told me I would become a doctor and then in my spare time...

My parents told me I would become a doctor and then in my spare time...

My parents had very high expectations. They expected me to get straight A's from the...

My parents had very high expectations. They expected me to get straight A's from the...

If you can't change your fate, change your attitude.

If you can't change your fate, change your attitude.

People think it's a terrible tragedy when somebody has Alzheimer's. But in my mother's case,...

People think it's a terrible tragedy when somebody has Alzheimer's. But in my mother's case,...

In America nobody says you have to keep the circumstances somebody else gives you.

In America nobody says you have to keep the circumstances somebody else gives you.

We are the kind of people who obsess over one word... but we have only...

We are the kind of people who obsess over one word... but we have only...

God, life changes faster than you think.

God, life changes faster than you think.