“When I was very little, say five or six, I became aware of the fact that people wrote books. Before that, I thought that God wrote books. I thought a book was a manifestation of nature, like a tree. When my mother explained it, I kept after her: What are you saying? What do you mean? I couldn't believe it. It was astonishing. It was like--here's the man who makes all the trees. Then I wanted to be a writer, because, I suppose, it seemed the closest thing to being God.” PeopleMenBelieveMeanLittlesBookFactsWantedMotherFiveTreeHe ManSixManifestationClosestAstonishing Author:Fran Lebowitz
“I'm working at trying to be a Christian and that's serious business. It's like trying to be a good Jew, a good Muslim, a good Buddhist, a good Shintoist, a good Zoroastrian, a good friend, a good lover, a good mother, a good buddyit's serious business. It's not something where you think, Oh, I've got it done. I did it all day, hotdiggety. The truth is, all day long you try to do it, try to be it, and then in the evening if you're honest and have a little courage you look at yourself and say, Hmm. I only blew it eighty-six times. Not bad.” IfsThinkingTryingLooksLittlesLongDoneChristianMotherChristianityHonestSeriousLoversTruth IsSixJewBuddhistEveningGood FriendEightyBuddyLook At YourselfGood MotherHmmGood LoveSerious BusinessGood LoversGood Buddhist Author:Maya Angelou
“My mother wanted me to learn how to read music. She'd given fiddles to my two older brothers, but they'd rebelled. I came along and my father said, "Oh, let Peter enjoy himself." What she did was leave musical instruments all around the house. Whistles, marimbas, squeeze boxes, a piano and organ. By age six or seven, I could bang out a simple tune on almost anything. I developed a good ear, so I didn't learn to read music until I taught myself at age eighteen, 'cause I was hearing so many good songs I couldn't possibly remember them all.” SaidTwoAgeWantedRememberMotherSongFatherHouseGivenCausesEnjoySimpleTaughtBrotherSixEarsInstrumentsSevenMusicalBoxesHearingPianoTunesPeterOrgansBangsEighteenFiddleOlder BrotherMusical Instruments Author:Pete Seeger
“[On the start of her career as a milliner:] When I was six I made my mother a little hat -- out of her new blouse.” LittlesMadeMotherCareersSixHatsBlouses Author:Lilly Dache
“[After her 18-day disappearance in 1974:] I love my husband very, very much, but he didn't ask me when he ran for mayor and he didn't consult me about running for governor. It would be nice to be asked. ... You know, I've been my mother's daughter, my father's daughter, the wife of my husband, the mother of my six children, and grandmother to my eleven grandchildren, but I have never been me. But I am now because I went away. I am a changed woman.” KnowsChildrenWould BeRunningMotherAsksFatherNiceWifeChangedHusbandSixDaughterAsk MeRanGrandmotherMy HusbandGovernorsBeing NiceGrandchildrenElevenMayorsDisappearanceAssertivenessLove My HusbandI Love My Husband Author:Angela Alioto
“The mother may be doing ninety percent of the disciplining, but the father still must have a full-time acceptance of all the children. He never must say, "Get these kids out of here; I'm trying to watch TV." If he ever does start saying this, he is liable to see one of his kids on the six o'clock news.” IfsTryingMayChildrenDoeStillsKidsMotherFatherWatchesAcceptanceTvsSixNewsPercentClockNinetyLiable Author:Bill Cosby