Gene Luen Yang > Quotes

“It's easy to become anything you wish . . . so long as you're willing to forfeit your soul.”
― Gene Luen Yang, American Born Chinese

“Wait."
"So what am I supposed to do now?"

"You know, Jin, I would have saved myself from five hundred years' imprisonment beneath a mountain of rock had I only realized how good it is to be a monkey."

(222-223)”
― Gene Luen Yang, American Born Chinese

“To find your true identity within the will of Tze Yo Tzuh...that is the highest of all freedoms.”
― Gene Luen Yang, American Born Chinese

“What is China but a people and their stories?”
― Gene Luen Yang, Boxers

“[S]ometimes, a fight you cannot win is still worth fighting.”
― Gene Luen Yang, The Shadow Hero

“I do not make mistakes, little monkey. A monkey I intended you to be. A monkey you are.”
― Gene Luen Yang, American Born Chinese

“Appa has feelings, too!”
― Gene Luen Yang, Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Search, Part 1

“Family is in essence a small nation, and the nation a large family. In treating his own family with dignity, a ruler learns to govern his nation with dignity”
― Gene Luen Yang, Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Search, Part 1

“Oh, cruel abandonment! My bones turn to dust beneath the gaze of your ever-mocking smile!”
― Gene Luen Yang, Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Promise, Part 3

“ There is no right or wrong apart from what you decide. Who you chose to defend deserves to be defended simply because you chose them. You are the Fire Lord. What you chose, by definition, is right. ”
― Gene Luen Yang, The Promise

“Class, I'd like us all to give a warm Mayflower elementary welcome to your new friend and classmate Jing Jang!"

"Jin Wang."

"Jin Wang!"

"He and his family recently moved to our neighborhood all the way from China!"

"San Francisco."

"San Francisco!"

"Yes, Timmy."

"My momma says Chinese people eat dogs."

"Now be nice, Timmy!" -I’m sure Jin doesn't do that! In fact, Jin's family probably stopped that sort of thing as soon as they came to the United States!"

The only other asian in my class was Suzy Nakamura.

When the class finally figured out that we weren't related, rumors began to circulate that Suzy and I were arranged to be married on her thirteenth birthday.

We avoided each other as much as possible.

(30-31)”
― Gene Luen Yang, American Born Chinese

“It is not human nature to dominate, but to create. Yes, humankind falters every now and then, but you know how to learn from your past mistakes. You've done it before, and you can do it again. I believe that ultimately, you will create a civilization that preserves and protects even as it grows. Do you understand? The spirits will always have a place in this world, as long as you -- and humans like you -- create a place for us. - Lady Tienhai, Guardian Spirit/Queen”
― Gene Luen Yang, Avatar: The Last Airbender: The Rift, Part 3

“Though cast away am I from the heart of my city, black tears dribble from mine eyes at the sight of the fearful trail blazing towards her gates!”
― Gene Luen Yang, Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Promise, Part 3

“Don't you think you're trying a little too hard to hold on to the past?

Maybe, but don't you think you're trying a little too hard to run away from it?

Not everybody's past is like yours, Aang. Some of us have to run away just to... just to live.”
― Gene Luen Yang, The Rift

“After all, though our yesterdays may be different, we all share the same tomorrow.”
― Gene Luen Yang, Superman Smashes the Klan #1

“Earthbenders! You don't know me, but I know of you. Every child in my Water Tribe Village was rocked to sleep with stories of the brave Earth Kingdom, and the courageous Earthbenders who guard its borders. Some of you may think that the Fire Nation has made you powerless. Yes, they have taken away your ability to bend. But they can't take away your courage. And it is your courage they should truly fear. Because it runs deeper than any mine you've been forced to dig, any ocean that keeps you far from home. It is the strength of your hearts that make you who you are. Hearts that will remain unbroken when all rocks and stone have eroded away. The time to fight back is now! I can tell you that the Avatar has returned! So remember your courage, let us fight for our freedom!”
― Gene Luen Yang

“So basically, you get to play Super Mario all you want, any time you want, for FREE !"

"That is the single most amazing thing I've ever heard.”
― Gene Luen Yang, Level Up

“You have to know your past if you want to create a future.”
― Gene Luen Yang

“We are bound together by the future. We all share the same tomorrow.”
― Gene Luen Yang, Superman Smashes the Klan

“Tell me, Little Bao, have you ever gotten close to woman?'
'Well. . . '
'Close enough to smell her?'
'No.'
'Ah! Even when they stink they smell like heaven! Women are something else? They're. . . they're magic!”
― Gene Luen Yang, Boxers & Saints

“I am the Mother of Faces. Through me, separateness came into the world. Through me, cam identity. The one became the many.”
― Gene Luen Yang, Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Search, Part 3

“From the outside, it looks as if I’m acting just like him . Does it matter if my reasons are different? – Prince Zuko”
― Gene Luen Yang, The Promise

“So you know that the RIGHT kind of love ... the kind that's REAL, that SACRIFICES ... that kind of love doesn't BLIND you. It actually helps you SEE.”
― Gene Luen Yang, Avatar: The Last Airbender: North and South, Part 1

“Ozai: What I'm saying is this -- There is no right or wrong apart from what you decide, who you choose to defend deserves to be defended simply because ”
― Gene Luen Yang, Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Promise, Part 3

“From the outside, it looks as if I’m acting just like him. Does it matter if my reasons are different?”
― Gene Luen Yang, The Promise

“You will hurt your beloved. Or your beloved will hurt you. Or the world will hurt one of you and the other will suffer, simply because you’ve chosen to love. And sooner or later, the time will come for you or your beloved or your relationship to die.
With love, suffering is simply unavoidable.”
― Gene Luen Yang, Lunar New Year Love Story

“So you only want to go all in if you're guaranteed a win ?"
"Well . . . yeah. Is that wrong?
"It's not wrong, honey. It's just stupid. ”
― Gene Luen Yang

“And that was it. That's how I died. Unable to protect anyone.”
― Gene Luen Yang, [Boxers & Saints Boxed Set] [By: Yang, Gene Luen] [September, 2013]

“So you know that the RIGHT kind of love ... the kind that's REAL, that SACRIFICES ... that kind of love doesn't BLIND you. It actually helps you SEE.”
― Gene Luen Yang, Avatar: The Last Airbender: North and South