Top 51 Quotes by Amy Tan

About Amy Tan

These are some quotes by American author Amy Tan Novelist, who was born on February 19, 1952.

We are the kind of people who obsess over one word... but we have only one shot to get it right in concert. It was hard the first time I practiced with them. I was so nervous that my vocal chords were paralyzed for about a half-hour.

Amy Tan

I did not lose myself all at once. I rubbed out my face over the years washing away my pain, the same way carvings on stone are worn down by water.

I did not lose myself all at once. I rubbed out my face over the years washing away my pain, the same way carvings on stone are worn down by water.

Amy Tan

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.

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.

Amy Tan

I'm open to reading almost anything - fiction, nonfiction - as long as I know from the first sentence or two that this is a voice I want to listen to for a good long while. It has much to do with imagery and language, a particular perspective, the assured knowledge of the particular universe the writer has created.

Amy Tan

I am an American, steeped in American values. But I know on an emotional level what it means to be of the Chinese culture.

I am an American, steeped in American values. But I know on an emotional level what it means to be of the Chinese culture.

Amy Tan

I used to think that my mother got into arguments with people because they didn't understand her English, because she was Chinese.

I used to think that my mother got into arguments with people because they didn't understand her English, because she was Chinese.

Amy Tan

The forbidden things were a great influence on my life. I was forbidden from reading A Catcher in the Rye.

The forbidden things were a great influence on my life. I was forbidden from reading A Catcher in the Rye.

Amy Tan

I didn't fear failure. I expected failure.

I didn't fear failure. I expected failure.

Amy Tan

My parents told me I would become a doctor and then in my spare time I would become a concert pianist. So, both my day job and my spare time were sort of taken care of.

My parents told me I would become a doctor and then in my spare time I would become a concert pianist. So, both my day job and my spare time were sort of taken care of.

Amy Tan

I also thought of playing improvisational jazz and I did take lessons for a while. At first I tried to write fiction by making up things that were completely alien to my life.

I also thought of playing improvisational jazz and I did take lessons for a while. At first I tried to write fiction by making up things that were completely alien to my life.

Amy Tan

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