No one in my family was a reader of literary fiction. So, I didn't have encouragement, but I didn't have discouragement, because I don't think anybody knew what that meant.

Quote by Amy Tan

Topics: Amy Tan Quotes

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.

Memory feeds imagination.

Memory feeds imagination.

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 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....

You write a book and you hope somebody will go out and pay $24.95 for...

You write a book and you hope somebody will go out and pay $24.95 for...

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,...

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 saw my mother in a different light. We all need to do that. You...

I saw my mother in a different light. We all need to do that. You...

I did not lose myself all at once. I rubbed out my face over the...

I did not lose myself all at once. I rubbed out my face over the...

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

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

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...

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...

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

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

I think I've always been somebody, since the deaths of my father and brother, who...

I think I've always been somebody, since the deaths of my father and brother, who...

The forbidden things were a great influence on my life. I was forbidden from reading...

The forbidden things were a great influence on my life. I was forbidden from reading...

God, life changes faster than you think.

God, life changes faster than you think.

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...

The language of the mystics cannot meet the language of science and reason, but nevertheless...

The language of the mystics cannot meet the language of science and reason, but nevertheless...

Language achieves soul only when it's applied as a tool, used by those who imbue...

Language achieves soul only when it's applied as a tool, used by those who imbue...

Language is the archives of history

Language is the archives of history