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Maxine Hong Kingston

Maxine Hong Kingston Quotes

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Maxine Hong Kingston is an influential American author known for her pioneering work in the genre of creative non-fiction. Born on October 27, 1940, she has made significant contributions to American literature with her distinctive narrative style and exploration of cultural identity. Her most notable works include 'The Woman Warrior' and 'China Men', which have been pivotal in shaping the narrative of Asian American identity.

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All People Stories Has Beens Order Thinking Way China Chinese Feet Hurt

Famous Maxine Hong Kingston Quotes

“How unlike a dead fish a live fish is.”

Book:China Men

Source: China Men

“In a time of destruction, create something: a poem, a parade, a community, a school, a vow, a moral principle; one peaceful moment.”

Inspirational Moments School Poetry Peace Community Moral Principles Creation Morality Creating Destruction Peaceful Vow Parades Moral Principles Beautiful Moments

Book:The Fifth Book of Peace

Source: The Fifth Book of Peace

“People who can comfort the dead can also chase after them to hurt them further-a reverse ancestor worship.”

People Hurt Comfort Worship Ancestor Reverse Ancestry Ancestor Worship

Book:The Woman Warrior: Picador Classic

Source: The Woman Warrior: Picador Classic

“Daughters-in-law lived with their husbands' parents, not their own; a synonym for marriage in Chinese is "taking a daughter-in-law.”

Law Parent Marriage Husband Daughter Chinese In-laws Synonym Daughter In Law

Book:The Woman Warrior: Memoirs of a Girlhood Among Ghosts

Source: The Woman Warrior: Memoirs of a Girlhood Among Ghosts

“Ocean people are very different from land people. The ocean never stops saying and asking into ears, which don't sleep like eyes.”

People Different Eye Sleep Land Ocean Ears Asking

Book:China Men

Source: China Men

“My aunt could not have been the lone romantic who gave up everything for sex. Women in the old China did not choose. Some man had commanded her to lie with him and be his secret evil.”

Men Has Beens Lying Evil Sex Secret China Aunt Gave Up Lone Promiscuity

Book:The Woman Warrior: Picador Classic

Source: The Woman Warrior: Picador Classic

“Attraction eludes control so stubbornly that whole societies designed to organize relationships among people cannot keep order, not even when they bind people to one another from childhood and raise them together.”

People Whole Together Order Childhood Raises Attraction Sensuality Organize Elude

Book:The Woman Warrior: Memoirs of a Girlhood Among Ghosts

Source: The Woman Warrior: Memoirs of a Girlhood Among Ghosts

“I'm so proud that my offspring became a musician. I'm full of awe that we are able to have a whole family live the life of artists.”

Whole Able Artist Proud Musician Live Life Awe Offspring Whole Family

Author:Maxine Hong Kingston

“I've been writing since I was 7, but before that, I was orally making stories.”

Writing Stories

Author:Maxine Hong Kingston

“It seems that writing chose me. I feel that because I know history, and I know the history of so many cultures; I have lived a large life.”

Knows Feels Writing Seems Culture

Author:Maxine Hong Kingston

“The sweat of hard work is not to be displayed. It is much more graceful to appear favored by the gods.”

Hard Business Grace Hard Work Sweat Grace Of God

Book:The Woman Warrior: Memoirs of a Girlhood Among Ghosts

Source: The Woman Warrior: Memoirs of a Girlhood Among Ghosts

“What does old look like? Sometimes I am wrinkled, sometimes not.”

Looks Doe Sometimes

Book:I Love a Broad Margin To My Life

Source: I Love a Broad Margin To My Life

“When I am composing, I try to clear my mind of having to publish, or having to sell a book or find readers. That kind of thinking gets in the way.”

Thinking Way Trying Mind Kind Book Clear Reader Sells Publish Composing

Author:Maxine Hong Kingston

“There can't be a pure myth, especially when the myth has been handed down in the oral tradition. As the stories are told, they change. If the stories don't change they just die.”

Ifs Has Beens Stories Dies Pure Tradition Myth Don't Change Oral Tradition

Author:Maxine Hong Kingston

About the Author

Born: October 27, 1940
Known for: Author
Quotes: 64

Related Topics

People Stories Has Beens Order Thinking Way China Chinese Feet Hurt

Popular Topics

People Ifs Thinking Knows Men World Way Want Love Life Inspirational Needs Giving Feels Should Writing Trying Years Mind Firsts

Books & Sources

The Woman Warrior: Memoirs of a Girlhood Among GhostsRelated source material

The Woman Warrior: Picador ClassicRelated source material

The Fifth Book of PeaceRelated source material

China MenRelated source material

Conversations with Maxine Hong KingstonRelated source material

I Love a Broad Margin To My LifeRelated source material

The Woman Warrior: China MenRelated source material

To Be the PoetRelated source material

Tripmaster Monkey: His Fake BookRelated source material

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