Amy Tan

Who knows where inspiration comes from. Perhaps it arises from desperation. Perhaps it comes from the flukes of the universe, the kindness of the muses.

You can get sucked into the idea that, 'Gosh, this is impressive. Maybe I should do this. It will look good.' Or 'I'll write like this because it will impress that critic.'

Words to me were magic. You could say a word and it could conjure up all kinds of images or feelings or a chilly sensation or whatever. It was amazing to me that words had this power.

Every man has his own courage, and is betrayed because he seeks in himself the courage of other persons.

It's easier to forgive those who hurt you than those who hurt the people you love.

It's good to like yourself, and that only comes from hard work, from doing. But vanity is dangerous; it can trip you badly.