Ties That Bind, Ties That Break Quotes

“Then I carefully dipped my brush and wrote the characters for family, country, and book. When the examiner smiled, I knew he liked my work, so I decided to write the hardest character I knew, which was the one for virtue. It took fifteen strokes.”
― Lensey Namioka, Ties That Bind, Ties That Break

“She’ll be five soon,’’ said Mother. ‘‘Most girls have it done even earlier. When Mrs. Liu saw Ailin the other day, she was shocked that her feet were still unbound. She also remarked on how spirited Ailin was. In other words, she found her spoiled and uncontrollable. Having Ailin’s feet bound would stop her from running around like a boy.’’ I looked at Little Brother, who was tottering up to a pot of chrysanthemums. In a few years he would be able to run around just like my cousins. Why was it all right for boys to run around but not for me? Father sighed. ‘‘Why can’t we wait a few years before deciding on the match with the Lius? I’ve never been keen on these early engagements.’’ He smiled. ‘‘Our marriage wasn’t arranged until you were fourteen, and it hasn’t turned out so badly, has it?”
― Lensey Namioka, Ties That Bind, Ties That Break

“Generations of girls had to suffer excruciating pain because somebody unknown had decreed that big feet were unacceptable in upper-class society. It was high time that somebody tried to stop this senseless practice. I was proud that Xueyan and I were among the first to rebel.”
― Lensey Namioka, Ties That Bind, Ties That Break

“The phrase learn how to walk on bound feet was what struck me the hardest. I suddenly realized that I would never walk naturally again.”
― Lensey Namioka, Ties That Bind, Ties That Break

“Revolution!" cried Grandmother. "What does that have to do with anything? People still have to live, to marry, and to bear children! Your father thinks things will change. Perhaps they will. But men will always be men, and women will always be women. Some things never change!”
― Lensey Namioka, Ties That Bind, Ties That Break

“Traditionally the strongest weapon that a Chinese woman had was suicide.”
― Lensey Namioka, Ties That Bind, Ties That Break

“Respect!’’ cried Mother’s voice. ‘‘Children owe respect to their parents! We don’t have to earn it!”
― Lensey Namioka, Ties That Bind, Ties That Break