39 Quotes by Anchee Min

My goal was to do anything that would lead to a job. I know that writing would not lead to a job. It’s too fancy for me. My biggest goal was to be an office receptionist, answer phones. I didn’t expect to go beyond that.

The most important lesson he taught me was that there was no one singular perspective on things or emotions in the universe – no one way of comprehending truth.

No matter how American I become, I’m considered part of the Chinese community by my own family.

The weak one waits for opportunity while the strong one creates.

Mother once told me that one had to lower one’s head when passing under low eaves in order to avoid injury.

When Chinese get together – what’s buried stays buried. We don’t even discuss our embarrassing early days struggling in Chicago.

Tea tasted the best at its second pouring. A.

Tea, opera and poetry should not be missed – longevity depends on one’s mental cultivation.

We were meant to survive because of our minds’ ability to reason, our ability to live with frustration in order to maintain our virtue. We wore smiling masks while dying inside.