Catherine Dang > Quotes

“Our family didn’t apologize with words. We were blunt about everything else, but apologies felt stilted, strange. We showed remorse through kindness, a favor, a small gift. Sometimes we continued like normal, as though there had been no fight.”
― Catherine Dang, What Hunger

“The world was less forgiving of its fat, ugly women. I knew that from firsthand experience. At best, people ignored you. At worst, they insulted you. Your existence was barely tolerated. By virtue of your looks, you had nothing to offer. It didn't matter if you were smart, thoughtful, or funny - no one listened. No one cared.”
― Catherine Dang, Nice Girls

“You think things are bad one day. You think it can’t get any worse. Then it does.”
― Catherine Dang, What Hunger

“Purgatory was a wood full of snow.”
― Catherine Dang

“As a family, we knew best how to hurt each other.”
― Catherine Dang, Nice Girls

“Mẹ and Ba never took us on vacations or signed us up for summer activities. Tommy and I never questioned why—it was all the time, money, and effort that our parents simply didn’t have for us. So we made do with what we had in the house and the backyard.”
― Catherine Dang, What Hunger

“None of us ever thought too much about our actions, our inaction-life was too fast, too complicated. We just kept moving forward. By the time we thought about it, it was too late. We kept moving forward anyway.”
― Catherine Dang, Nice Girls

“Because angry tears and sad tears all looked the same.”
― Catherine Dang, What Hunger

“And maybe that was why some people prayed so ardently. They hoped that God would take care of the things they couldn't. They hoped that there was justice and righteousness out there. People prayed because they were tired.”
― Catherine Dang, Nice Girls

“My mother’s world was made only of her spouse and children. No one else could enter it.”
― Catherine Dang, What Hunger

“It’s okay to be lighthearted. It’s good to enjoy things when you’re young. Life is hard already. You need to find those little moments that make it worthwhile.”
― Catherine Dang, What Hunger