Courage is impulsive; it is narcissism tempered with nihilism. Ayelet Waldman More Quotes by Ayelet Waldman More Quotes From Ayelet Waldman Well, you know, I was raised by a 1970s feminist. My mom had a consciousness-raising group. I used to sit at the top of the stairs and listen to them. Ayelet Waldman groups feminist mom I smoked pot when I was a teenager because other kids were doing it, but I didn't enjoy it that much. Ayelet Waldman teenager pot kids I love the novel of 'The English Patient'; I think it's a profoundly beautiful novel. I love the movie of 'The English Patient'; I think it's a profoundly beautiful movie. And they're totally different. You accept each on its own terms, and that's kind of the ideal. Ayelet Waldman different beautiful thinking I have made so many mistakes as a mother. But the one thing that I know I do is I make sure my children know how much I love them and they are absolutely secure in that. Ayelet Waldman mother mistake children I feed my kids organic food and milk, but I've also been known to buy the odd Lunchable. My kids are not allowed to watch TV during the week, but on weekends even the 2-year-old veges out to 'The Simpsons. Ayelet Waldman weekend kids years I've never really been interested in recreational drug use. Ayelet Waldman drug-use drug use The only difference between a writer and someone who wants to be a writer is discipline. Ayelet Waldman discipline differences writing When my first daughter was born, my husband held her in his hands and said, 'My God, she's so beautiful.' I unwrapped the baby from her blankets. She was average size, with long thin fingers and a random assortment of toes. Her eyes were close set, and she had her father's hooked nose. It looked better on him. Ayelet Waldman daughter mother beautiful I used to refer to myself as a 'theoretical anorexic,' just as crazy when it came to body image, but saved by a lack of self-discipline. My daughters do everything better than I do - they're smarter, more beautiful, happier. What if they end up better at anorexia, too? Ayelet Waldman daughter mother beautiful The thing I believe in most in the world is my own fallibility, so I am willing to believe that I may be wrong too. Ayelet Waldman may believe world Let's all commit ourselves to the basic civility of minding our own business. Failing that, let's go back to a time when we were nasty and judgmental, but only behind one another's backs. Ayelet Waldman judgmental failing nasty Love & Marriage are about work & Compromise. They're about seeing someone for what he is, being disappointed and deciding to stick around anyway. They're about commitment and comfort, not some kind of sudden, hysterical recognition. Ayelet Waldman sticks comfort commitment The thing about youthful offenders is that no one seems to care about them. Most people don't like adolescents - even the good ones can be snarky and unpleasant. Combine the antipathy we feel toward the average teenager with the fear inspired by youth violence, and you have a population that no one wants to deal with. Ayelet Waldman teenager average people I'd never written nonfiction about the war on drugs, but I know a tremendous amount about it: I taught a class on it for seven years. I was putting into words the stuff I was teaching, and I was writing it up and thought, "Dude, you're writing a book." Ayelet Waldman teaching war book The Q I loathe and despise, the Q every single writer I know loathes and despises, is this one: 'Where,' the reader asks, 'do you get your ideas?' It's a simple question, and my usual response is a kind of helpless, 'I don't know.' Ayelet Waldman usual simple ideas The biggest challenge for any craft person or artist is to accept the constraints of their medium and make something beautiful despite them. That's kind of fun, actually. Ayelet Waldman artist fun beautiful I wish I could view the belly that oozes over the top of my pants as a badge of maternal honor. I do try. I make sure that the women whose looks I admire all have sufficient fat reserves to survive a famine, and I make a lot of snide comments about the skeletal likes of Lara Flynn Boyle and Paris Hilton. Ayelet Waldman paris honor views My father is sure that Israel keeps the Holocaust from happening again. I worry that it might hasten its recurrence. Ayelet Waldman israel worry father Is Valentine's Day a day to make cupcakes with your children? No, Valentine's is supposed to be a day about romantic love. Ayelet Waldman valentine happiness children I had a second trimester abortion. I was pregnant with a much-wanted child who was diagnosed with a genetic abnormality. I made a choice to terminate the pregnancy. It was my third pregnancy, and I was very obviously showing. More important, I could feel the baby move. Ayelet Waldman pregnancy baby children
