Quote by Maxine Hong Kingston | TrueQuotes

"Ocean people are different from land people. The ocean never stops saying and asking into ears, which don't sleep like eyes. Those who live by the sea examine the driftwood and glass balls that float from foreign ships. They let scores of invisible imps loose out of found bottles. In a scoop of salt water, they revive the dead blobs that have been beached in storms and tides: fins, whiskers, and gills unfold; mouths, eyes, and colors bloom and spread. Sometimes ocean people are given to understand the newness and oldness of the world; then all morning they try to keep that boundless joy like a little sun inside their chests. The ocean also makes its people know immensity. (p90)"

— Maxine Hong Kingston

Quote Details

Added by wikiquote-import-bot

Unverified quote

0 likes

Short story writers from the United States Non-fiction authors from the United States Memoirists from the United States Educators from the United States Feminists from the United States

Original Language: English

Available Languages (1)

English (Original)

Sources

Imported from EN Wikiquote

https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Maxine_Hong_Kingston

Revision History

No revisions have been submitted for this quote.

Categories

Short story writers from the United States Non-fiction authors from the United States Memoirists from the United States Educators from the United States Feminists from the United States

Maxine Hong Kingston

123 quotes on TrueQuotesView all quotes by Maxine Hong Kingston →

Related Quotes

"I want English professors to put my books on regular reading lists. An American writer. We have worked hard for fairn…"

— Maxine Hong Kingston

Short Story Writers From The United States Non Fiction Authors From The United States Memoirists From The United States

"Of course, I'm an ethnic writer, and only benighted people see ethnics as not partaking of the macrocosmic. And only …"

— Maxine Hong Kingston

Short Story Writers From The United States Non Fiction Authors From The United States Memoirists From The United States

"If a woman is going to write a Book of Peace, it is given her to know devastation. ("Fire" opening line)"

— Maxine Hong Kingston

Short Story Writers From The United States Non Fiction Authors From The United States Memoirists From The United States

"Humans are basically good. That's why it takes so much training to march march march kill kill kill kill. ("Earth" p269)"

— Maxine Hong Kingston

Short Story Writers From The United States Non Fiction Authors From The United States Memoirists From The United States

"The images of peace are ephemeral. The language of peace is subtle. The reasons for peace, the definitions of peace, …"

— Maxine Hong Kingston

Short Story Writers From The United States Non Fiction Authors From The United States Memoirists From The United States

"Children, everybody, here's what to do during war: In a time of destruction, create something. A poem. A parade. A co…"

— Maxine Hong Kingston

Short Story Writers From The United States Non Fiction Authors From The United States Memoirists From The United States

"When the peace demonstrations turned violent, and doves and hawks were using the same tactics-revolutionary and gover…"

— Maxine Hong Kingston

Short Story Writers From The United States Non Fiction Authors From The United States Memoirists From The United States

"The wind is time blowing by. (p189)"

— Maxine Hong Kingston

Short Story Writers From The United States Non Fiction Authors From The United States Memoirists From The United States

"In the whole dark universe, I've met you at this bit of fire, and we speak with each other, and listen to each other.…"

— Maxine Hong Kingston

Short Story Writers From The United States Non Fiction Authors From The United States Memoirists From The United States

"Joy and life exist nowhere but the present."

— Maxine Hong Kingston

Short Story Writers From The United States Non Fiction Authors From The United States Memoirists From The United States