My parents had very high expectations. They expected me to get straight A's from the time I was in kindergarten.

Quote by Amy Tan

Topics: Amy Tan Quotes

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.

I learned to forgive myself, and that enabled me to forgive my mother as a...

I learned to forgive myself, and that enabled me to forgive my mother as a...

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...

My mother had a very difficult childhood, having seen her own mother kill herself. So...

My mother had a very difficult childhood, having seen her own mother kill herself. So...

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...

God, life changes faster than you think.

God, life changes faster than you think.

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.

It's both rebellion and conformity that attack you with success.

It's both rebellion and conformity that attack you with success.

Language is the tool of my trade -and I use them all - all the...

Language is the tool of my trade -and I use them all - all the...

I also thought of playing improvisational jazz and I did take lessons for a while....

I also thought of playing improvisational jazz and I did take lessons for a while....

It's a luxury being a writer, because all you ever think about is life.

It's a luxury being a writer, because all you ever think about is life.

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...

That was a wonderful period in my life. I mean, I didn't become an artist,...

That was a wonderful period in my life. I mean, I didn't become an artist,...

I would find myself laughing and wondering where these ideas came from. You can call...

I would find myself laughing and wondering where these ideas came from. You can call...

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.

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...

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...

Words to me were magic. You could say a word and it could conjure up...

Words to me were magic. You could say a word and it could conjure up...

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...

There are a lot of people who think that's what's needed to be successful is...

There are a lot of people who think that's what's needed to be successful is...