Lisa See - Mother Quotes

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Maybe we're all like that with our mothers. They seem ordinary until one day they're extraordinary.

Lisa See

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.

Lisa See

In our country we call this type of mother love teng ai. My son has told me that in men's writing it is composed of two characters. The first means pain; the second means love. That is a mother's love.

Lisa See

I am still learning about love. I thought I understood it—not just mother love, but the love for one's parents, for one's husband, and for one's laotong. I've experienced the other types of love—pity love, respectful love and gratitude love. But looking at our secret fan with its messages written between Snow Flower and me over many years, I see that I didn't value the most important love—deep-heart love.

Lisa See