Anna Lashkarev

“To be alive and try to be a decent person, and not turn into anything big or grand, that's the hardest thing of all. You think being president is hard? Ha. Don't you see that every president becomes a millionaire after he leaves office? If you can be nobody, and stand on your own two feet for as long as I have, that's enough. Look at my girl, all that talent and for what, just to drown in Bud Light?" [...] "People don't know what's enough, Labas. That's their problem. They think they suffer, but they're really just bored. They don't eat enough carrots.”
― Ocean Vuong, The Emperor of Gladness

“I don't want to give myself up to other people for their consumption. I want to decide how I work and interact with other people based on what I think really matters.”
― Asako Yuzuki, Butter

“Nobody has to be fully satisfied by just one thing, and nor do they have to aim to be like everyone else. It's plenty if people can enjoy things a good amount, and be satisfied with their life overall.”
― Asako Yuzuki, Butter

“Look, I have it too. It's just like the weather. Like clouds and rain and stuff. They go away. But some of us spend more time in London, you know? Or Seattle. You're just raining right now.”
― Ocean Vuong, The Emperor of Gladness