Excerpts from Amy Tan's The Hundred Secret Senses

- You’ll be of no use. You’re not used to seeing tragedies. You pity us, yes, because you can later go home to a comfortable life and forget what you’ve seen. For us, this type of disaster is commonplace. We have so many people. This is our life, always a crowded bus, everyone trying to squeeze in for himself, no air to breath, no room left for pity.

- So sad, so sad. Like two starving people, argue-argue. Both throw out rice. Why do this, why?

- Crying was a weak person’s luxury.