Amy Chua Quotes

There's nothing better for building confidence than learning you can do something you thought you couldn't.

Tenacious practice, practice, practice is crucial for excellence;

rote repetition is underrated in America.

I kind of - I like my life, I feel I have lots of opportunities.

And my parents actually having had such high expectations for me - I would say it's the greatest gift that anyone has ever given me. I complained a lot when I was little, but that's how I feel now. And that's why I tried to do the same with my two daughters.

Western parents worry a lot about their children's self-esteem.

But as a parent, one of the worst things you can do for your child's self-esteem is to let them give up. On the flip side, there's nothing better for building confidence than learning you can do something you thought you couldn't.

Be modest, be humble, be simple.Make sure you come in first so that you have something to be humble about.

I am definitely a Type A personality, always rushing around, trying to do too much, not good at just lying on the beach. But I'm so thankful for everything I have: wonderfully supportive parents and sisters, the best husband in the world, terrific students I love teaching and hanging out with, and above all, my two amazing daughters.

Unlike Western parents, reminding my child of Lord Voldemort didn't bother me.

Most things are difficult at the beginning and they become fun, something you love, only after you've worked at them.

I'm a proud strict mom and, you know, I'm really proud of the two daughters I've raised. And I'm especially proud of my relationship with them. We're very close. I think we're good friends.

There are all kinds of psychological disorders in the West that don't exist in Asia.

Parenting cannot just be one size fits all.

All decent parents want to do what's best for their children.

The Chinese just have a totally different idea of how to do that.

The truth is I'm not good at enjoying life.

I think there are many ways to raise great kids.

From what I can tell, Ayelet Waldman's kids are interesting, strong, and happy, and if that's the case, that's good parenting.

What Chinese parents understand is that nothing is fun until you're good at it. pg 29

Be modest, be humble, be simple.

Never complain or make excuses. If something seems unfair, just prove yourself by working twice as hard and being twice as good.

My dogs can't do anything--and what a relief.

I don't make any demands of them, and I don't try to shape them or their future. For the most part, I trust them to make the right choices for themselves. I always look forward to seeing them, and I love just watching them sleep. What a great relationship.

I think the biggest difference is that I've noticed Western parents seem much more concerned about their children's psyches, their self-esteem, whereas tough immigrant parents assume strength rather than fragility in their children and therefore behave completely differently.

The fact is that Chinese parents can do things that would seem unimaginable-even legally actionable-to Westerners. Chinese mothers can say to their daughters, "Hey fatty-lose some weight." By contrast, Western parents have to tiptoe around the issue, talking in terms of "health" and never ever mentioning the f-word, and their kids still end up in therapy for eating disorders and negative self image.

There's something suspicious about saying, 'I'm just going to leave my child alone and let her pursue her passions.' You know what? I think most 13-year-olds' passion is sitting in front of the TV, or doing Facebook, or surfing the Internet for hours.

Nothing is fun until you're good at it.

As a purely mathematical fact, people who sleep less live more.

I worry that by losing my temper so much and being so harsh and yelling so much that, by example, I will have taught my daughters to be that way, and I'm now constantly telling them not to do that.

Parenting is the hardest thing I have ever done.

I tried to find the balance between the strict, traditional Chinese way I was raised, which I think can be too harsh, and what I see as a tendency in the West to be too permissive and indulgent. If I could do it all again, I would, with some adjustments.

Every day that you don't practice is a day you're getting worse.

Chinese parents believe that their kids owe them everything.

The Chinese mom is not the helicopter mom.

I would never do their homework for them. It's all about: Take responsibility, don't blame others. Be self-reliant. Never blame the teacher.

My goal as a parent is to prepare you for the future, not to make you like me.

But just because you love something, I added to myself, doesn't mean you'll ever be great. Not if you don't work. Most people stink at the things they love.

China is doing lots of things right. It's investing in education and R&D, it's opening up, it's more cosmopolitan than it's ever been. I think it's very likely that China will continue to explode economically and certainly become a superpower.

We all want to do the right thing for our children.

We all don't know what that is and we all - you know, you won't know until the future.

The most successful hyperpowers are the ones where there was actual intermixing.

Tang dynasty China was Chinas golden age, and contrary to what I was told when I was growing up, Tang China was founded by a man who by todays standards was no more than half Chinese. It was a mixed-blood dynasty that pulled in "barbarians" from the steppe.

Everything I've ever done that's valuable is something I was afraid to try.