184 Quotes by Min Jin Lee

It was not Hansu that she missed, or even Isak. What she was seeing in her dreams was her youth, her beginning, and her wishes – so this was how she became a woman. Without Hansu and Isak and Noa, there wouldn’t have been this pilgrimage to this land. Beyond the dailiness, there had been moments of shimmering beauty and some glory, too, even in this ajumma’s life. Even if no one knew, it was true.

Although, if you like everything you read, I can’t take you seriously. Perhaps you didn’t think about these books long enough.

In the end, your belly was your emperor.

It’s a filthy world, Solomon. No one is clean. Living makes you dirty.

Even if there were hundred bad Japanese, if there was one good one, he refused to make a blanket statement.

His Presbyterian minster father had believed in a divine design, and Mozasu believed that life was like this game where the player could adjust the dials yet also expect the uncertainty of factors he couldn’t control. He understood why his customers wanted to play something that looked fixed but which also left room for randomness and hope.

It’s not that you don’t understand, it’s that you don’t like it.

History has failed us, but no matter.

I’m not a good man, but I’m not a bad one, either.