Funny in Farsi Quotes

“...The more modest and impractical the kitchen, the more likely one will be invited to stay for a meal. Show me a fancy house with a top-of-the-line gourmet kitchen, and I'll show you a family that eats out a lot.”
― Firoozeh Dumas, Funny in Farsi: A Memoir of Growing Up Iranian in America

“It's not what we eat or don't eat that makes us good people; it's how we treat one another. As you grow older, you'll find that people of every religion think they're the best, but that's not true. There are good and bad people in every religion. Just because someone is Muslim, Jewish, or Christian doesn't mean a thing. You have to look and see what's in their hearts. That's the only thing that matters, and that's the only detail God cares about.”
― Firoozeh Dumas, Funny in Farsi: A Memoir of Growing Up Iranian in America

“I was a VIP, a Very Iranian Person, and things just take longer for us.”
― Firoozeh Dumas, Funny In Farsi: A Memoir Of Growing Up Iranian In America

“Any gift from a true friend is valuable, even if it’s a hollow walnut shell.”
― Firoozeh Dumas, Funny In Farsi: A Memoir Of Growing Up Iranian In America

“During his next visit, my father secretly decided that our bathroom needed towel hooks. Using nails that were too long, my father pierced the door, creating towel hooks on one side, medieval blinding devices on the other...No matter how inconvenient a household malfunction might be, Kazem can always make it worse, for free.”
― Firoozeh Dumas, Funny in Farsi: A Memoir of Growing Up Iranian in America

“Throughout his job ordeal, my father never complained. He remained an Iranian who loved his native country but who also believed in American ideals. He only said how sad it was that people so easily hate an entire population simply because of the actions of a few. And what a waste it is to hate, he always said. What a waste.”
― Firoozeh Dumas, Funny in Farsi: A Memoir of Growing Up Iranian in America

“I truly believe that everyone has a story and everyone's story counts.”
― Firoozeh Dumas, Funny in Farsi: A Memoir of Growing Up Iranian in America

“And what a waste it is to hate, he always said. What a waste.”
― Firoozeh Dumas, Funny in Farsi: A Memoir of Growing Up Iranian in America

“Swimsuit competitions go against everything that is right and decent in this world. We're told that beauty is on the inside and that who we are matters far more than what we look like. But could you please just put on this bikini and walk around on high heels so I can judge your inner beauty?”
― Firoozeh Dumas, Funny in Farsi: A Memoir of Growing Up Iranian in America

“ایرانی‌ها همیشه سوئیس را اوج مدنیت تصور کرده‌اند: کشوری کوچک و تمیز که لازم نیست رانندگان اتوبوس بلیت‌ها را کنترل کنند چون همه مردم درستکار هستند. به علاوه سوئیس هیچ وقت از ایرانی‌ها استقبال نکرده که این هم جاذبه‌ای می‌سازد مثل باقی چیزهای سخت‌یاب”
― Firoozeh Dumas, Funny in Farsi: A Memoir of Growing Up Iranian in America

“Shushtari proverb “Any gift from a true friend is valuable, even if it’s a hollow walnut shell.” It”
― Firoozeh Dumas, Funny In Farsi: A Memoir Of Growing Up Iranian In America

“The Limoges set has brought us more joy in its absence than it ever did in our cupboards. Of course, we no longer own a set of china to pass down to our kids, but that's okay. Francois and I plan on giving our children something more valuable, the simple truth that the best way to go through life is to be a major donor of kindness. We'll tell them that it's possible to own a whole bunch of beautiful, valuable things and still be miserable. But sometimes just having a recipe for chocolate Bunt cake can make a person far, far happier.”
― Firoozeh Dumas, Funny in Farsi: A Memoir of Growing Up Iranian in America

“[Firoozeh's dad speaking] He continued, "It's not what we eat or don't eat that makes us good people; it's how we treat on another. As you grow older, you'll find that people of every religion think they're the best, but that's not true. There are good and bad people in every religion. Just because someone is Muslim, Jewish, or Christian doesn't mean a thing. You have to look and see what's in their hearts. That's the only thing that matters, and that's the only detail God cares about.”
― Firoozeh Dumas, Funny in Farsi: A Memoir of Growing Up Iranian in America

“I always made sure to put them back in the exact order in which I had found them, for fear of losing the privilege of browsing in my uncle’s library.”
― Firoozeh Dumas, Funny In Farsi: A Memoir Of Growing Up Iranian In America

“Despite a few exceptions, I have found that Americans are now far more willing to learn new names, just as they're far more willing to try new ethnic foods... It's like adding a few new spices to the kitchen pantry.”
― Firoozeh Dumas, Funny in Farsi: A Memoir of Growing Up Iranian in America

“As soon as my father’s car turned into our driveway, I ran out and told him of the unpleasant future that awaited him, forever. He let out a hearty laugh. I started to cry. Once my father saw my tears, he sat down with me and said, “Firoozeh, when the Prophet Muhammad forbade ham, it was because people did not know how to cook it properly and many people became sick as a result of eating it. The Prophet, who was a kind and gentle man, wanted to protect people from harm, so he did what made sense at the time. But now, people know how to prepare ham safely, so if the Prophet were alive today, he would change that rule.” He continued, “It’s not what we eat or don’t eat that makes us good people; it’s how we treat one another. As you grow older, you’ll find that people of every religion think they’re the best, but that’s not true. There are good and bad people in every religion. Just because someone is Muslim, Jewish, or Christian doesn’t mean a thing. You have to look and see what’s in their hearts. That’s the only thing that matters, and that’s the only detail God cares about.” I was six years old and I knew that I had just been made privy to something very big and important, something far larger than the jewels in the Shah’s crown, something larger than my little life in Abadan. My father’s words felt scandalous, yet utterly and completely true. In the midst of my thoughtfulness, I heard my father continue, “And when you’re older, Firoozeh, I’ll have you try something really delicious: grilled lobster.”
― Firoozeh Dumas, Funny In Farsi: A Memoir Of Growing Up Iranian In America

“It seemed to me that life in America was one long series of festivities, all of them celebrated with merriment and chocolate. The”
― Firoozeh Dumas, Funny In Farsi: A Memoir Of Growing Up Iranian In America

“During our stay in Newport Beach, the Iranian Revolution took place and a group of Americans were taken hostage in the American embassy in Tehran. Overnight, Iranians living in America became, to say the least, very unpopular. For some reason, many Americans began to think that all Iranians, despite outward appearances to the contrary, could at any given moment get angry and take prisoners.”
― Firoozeh Dumas, Funny In Farsi: A Memoir Of Growing Up Iranian In America

“I knew what he was thinking. Thanks to Mickey, I had been elevated from child-who-can’t-learn-to-swim to child genius. The”
― Firoozeh Dumas, Funny In Farsi: A Memoir Of Growing Up Iranian In America

“My parents do not limit themselves to worrying about things that have actually happened. Dreams are also fair game. I often get phone calls with detailed descriptions of a dream, followed by "So naturally, I had to call to make sure you were okay and there wasn't a reason why I dreamed of you trapped in a canoe with a blue turtle.”
― Firoozeh Dumas, Funny in Farsi: A Memoir of Growing Up Iranian in America

“white paint is white paint,”
― Firoozeh Dumas, Funny In Farsi: A Memoir Of Growing Up Iranian In America

“When challenged with the point that installing tile is perhaps different from building a radio, he would always reply, “Not really.”
― Firoozeh Dumas, Funny In Farsi: A Memoir Of Growing Up Iranian In America

“My parents do not limit themselves to worrying about things that have actually happened. Dreams are also fair game.”
― Firoozeh Dumas, Funny In Farsi: A Memoir Of Growing Up Iranian In America

“And what a waste it is to hate, he always said.”
― Firoozeh Dumas, Funny In Farsi: A Memoir Of Growing Up Iranian In America

“Perhaps the greatest irony in the wave of Iranian-hating was that Iranians, as a group, are among the most educated and successful immigrants in this country.”
― Firoozeh Dumas, Funny In Farsi: A Memoir Of Growing Up Iranian In America

“دون أقاربي لست إلا خيطًا، معًا نشكل سجادة فارسية متقنة.”
― Firoozeh Dumas, Funny in Farsi: A Memoir of Growing Up Iranian in America

“During our Thanksgiving meal, my father gives thanks for living in a free country where he can vote. I always share gratitude for being able to pursue my hopes and dreams, despite being female. My relatives and I are proud for our lives in America, a nation where freedom reigns”
― Firoozeh Dumas, Funny in Farsi: A Memoir of Growing Up Iranian in America

“During our Thanksgiving meal, my father gives thanks for living in a free country where he can vote. I always share gratitude for being able to pursue my hopes and dreams, despite being female. My relatives and I are proud for our lives in America, a nation where freedom reigns.”
― Firoozeh Dumas, Funny in Farsi: A Memoir of Growing Up Iranian in America

“When we were finally asked whether we wanted to marry each other, the groom is supposed to answer yes right away, but the bride is expected to take her sweet time and cause a little bit of last-minute anxiety for the groom and his family. When my uncle asked whether I wanted to marry François, I said nothing. My family yelled the traditional response: “She has gone to pick flowers.” My uncle repeated his question. Again, I said nothing. The family yelled, “She has gone to bring rose water.” My uncle asked a third time. This time, I said yes. Everyone cheered as my uncle declared us husband and wife.”
― Firoozeh Dumas, Funny In Farsi: A Memoir Of Growing Up Iranian In America

“It’s not what we eat or don’t eat that makes us good people; it’s how we treat one another. As you grow older, you’ll find that people of every religion think they’re the best, but that’s not true. There are good and bad people in every religion. Just because someone is Muslim, Jewish, or Christian doesn’t mean a thing. You have to look and see what’s in their hearts. That’s the only thing that matters, and that’s the only detail God cares about.”
― Firoozeh Dumas, Funny In Farsi: A Memoir Of Growing Up Iranian In America