That was a wonderful period in my life. I mean, I didn't become an artist, but somebody let me do something I loved. What a luxury, to do something you love to do.

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.

No one in my family was a reader of literary fiction. So, I didn't have...

No one in my family was a reader of literary fiction. So, I didn't have...

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 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...

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....

I used to think that my mother got into arguments with people because they didn't...

I used to think that my mother got into arguments with people because they didn't...

God, life changes faster than you think.

God, life changes faster than you think.

I didn't fear failure. I expected failure.

I didn't fear failure. I expected failure.

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...

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...

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 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...

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,...

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 loved fairy tales when I was a kid. Grimm. The grimmer the better. I...

I loved fairy tales when I was a kid. Grimm. The grimmer the better. I...

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...

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 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...

The future is like heaven - everyone exalts it, but no one wants to go...

The future is like heaven - everyone exalts it, but no one wants to go...

Heaven is neither here nor there to me. Everywhere and nowhere. Just not in between,...

Heaven is neither here nor there to me. Everywhere and nowhere. Just not in between,...

How prudently we proud men compete for nameless graves, while now and then some starveling...

How prudently we proud men compete for nameless graves, while now and then some starveling...

A Code of Honor: Never approach a friend's girlfriend or wife with mischief as your...

A Code of Honor: Never approach a friend's girlfriend or wife with mischief as your...