The trick. . .is to find the balance between the bright colors of humor and the serious issues of identity, self-loathing, and the possibility for intimacy and love when it seems no longer possible or, sadder yet, no longer necessary.
No matter how successful I become as a playwright, my mother would be thrilled to hear me tell her that I'd just lost twenty pounds, gotten married and become a lawyer.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote highlights the unconditional love and traditional values that mothers uphold, often prioritizing personal happiness over professional success.
Wendy Wasserstein's quote reflects the deep-seated connection between a child and their mother, emphasizing how, regardless of one's achievements, a mother often values family milestones and personal well-being above career successes. It suggests that maternal pride comes from seeing their children achieve traditional life goals rather than just professional accolades, revealing the critical role family plays in how we perceive success.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
In a heartfelt speech at a graduation ceremony, one might say, 'Remember, success is not just about your career; it's about your family's joy and well-being, just like Wendy Wasserstein expressed.'
More from Wendy Wasserstein
All quotes →Being a grownup means assuming responsibility for yourself, for your children, and - here's the big curve - for your parents.
I'm not going to throw my imagination away. I refuse to lie down to expectation. If I can just hold out till I'm thirty, I'll be incredible.
No matter how lonely you get or how many birth announcements you receive, the trick is not to get frightened. There's nothing wrong with being alone.
Similar quotes
My family’s said to me from the beginning, ‘People are always going to tell you to pick what you want to be when you grow up. You take that and throw it out the window, that’s garbage. People are complicated and we love many things and we’re passionate about many things. You can be a human rights activist and also be doing these comedy plays in your community and that’s OK. All those things are a part of who you are and you can love them equally.
"Reverence for parents" stands written among the three laws of most revered righteousness.
Dear parents, teach your children to pray. Pray with them.
Children, dear and loving children, can alone console a woman for the loss of her beauty.
My father had been opposed to my flying from the first and had never flown himself. However, he had agreed to go up with me at the first opportunity, and one afternoon he climbed into the cockpit and we flew over the Redwood Falls together. From that day on I never heard a word against my flying and he never missed a chance to ride in the plane.
My kids and I make pasta three days a week now. It's not even so much about the eating of it; they just like the process. Benno is the stuffer, and Leo is the catcher. They've got their jobs down.