When I knew I couldn't suffer another moment of pain, and tears fell on my bloody bindings, my mother spoke softly into my ear, encouraging me to go one more hour, one more day, one more week, reminding me of the rewards I would have if I carried on a little longer. In this way, she taught me how to endure — not just the physical trials of footbinding and childbearing but the more torturous pain of the heart, mind, and soul.

Obey, obey, obey, then do what you want.

My hardcover sales are 17% down in books but up 400% in electronics.

Having a baby is painful in order to show how serious a thing life is.

The classics tell us that, in relationships, the one between teacher and student comes second only to the one between parent and child.

All women on earth-- and men, too for that matter-- hope for the kind of love that transforms us, raises us up out of the everyday, & gives us the courage to survive our little deaths: the heartache of unfulfilled dreams, of career and personal disappointments, of broken love affairs.

You make choices that are good and sound, but the gods have other plans for you.