Quotes from Isabel Allende

He armado la idea de mi país como un rompecabezas, seleccionando aquellas piezas que se ajustan a mi diseño e ignorando las demás.

Fue lectora voraz desde muy corta edad, con los peligros que esa costumbre conlleva.

Un dolor así, dolor del alma, no se quita con remedios, terapia o vacaciones; un dolor así se sufre, simplemente, a fondo, sin atenuantes, como debe ser

el amor nos vuelve buenos. No importa a quién amemos, tampoco importa ser correspondidos o si la relación es duradera. Basta la experiencia de amar, eso nos transforma.

The writer and the dreamer have so much in common: They can't control the plot, they are always part of the story or the dream.

nadie le importan los problemas ajenos y que los dolores callados acaban por diluirse.

The property adjoined the bay, and when the tide came in it was possible to go kayaking, which some of the residents not yet disabled by their infirmities were happy to do. This is how I would like to live, thought Irina, taking deep breaths of the sweet aroma of pines and laurels.

Esto sirve para tranquilizarnos la conciencia, hija —explicaba a Blanca—. Pero no ayuda a los pobres. No necesitan caridad, sino justicia.

Mi vida ha sido una serie de navegaciones, he ido de un lado a otro en esta tierra. He sido extranjero sin saber que tenia raices profundas...

La nostalgia desgasta y aniquila, es el vicio de los desterrados.

Caminaba erguido y con el pecho adelante, dispuesto al combate, hablaba con voz de actor y elocuencia de iluminado, era controlado en los gestos, rápido de pensamiento e irreductible en sus convicciones fundamentales

If I have a perfect lover waiting for me in California, why would I want an imperfect husband?" I argued. "Lovers don't last; a husband is a captive prey," she replied.

They are more interesting than most men, but that does not affect the reality: they live in an unyielding patriarchy. To begin with, a woman's work or intellect isn't respected; we must work twice as hard as any man to earn half the recognition

to serve an ambassador who was despotic toward his subordinates and servile toward those of a higher social rank.

In the Chinese language, do you know what the characters for 'crisis' are? 'Danger' plus 'opportunity.

Si nada me duele, es que amanecí muerta

She owed no one an explanation; if she had made mistakes she had been duly punished by giving up her family, suffering in the hold of the ship, losing her baby, and facing a future of total uncertainty.

Happiness is slippery, it slithers away between your fingers, but problems are something you can hold on to, they've got handles, they're rough and hard.

La vida costaba demasiado trabajo, no valía la pena levantarse por la mañana y ver arrastrarse las horas sin una finalidad. Descansar. Morir. Ser o no ser, como Hamlet. No pienses, Maya, trata de mantenerte ocupada

Those native peoples were confounded by the mystery of the crucified man the whites worshipped, and they could not understand the advantage of living contrary to their inclinations in this world in order to enjoy a hypothetical well-being in another.

No creas que eres alguien especial o mejor que los otros, acuérdate de que al clavo más prominente le cae el martillazo».

We don't even know how strong we are until we are forced to bring that hidden strength forward. In times of tragedy, of war, of necessity, people do amazing things. The human capacity for survival and renewal is awesome.

A los ocho años se había enamorado de Ichimei con la intensidad de los amores de la infancia y de Nathaniel con el amor sereno de la vejez.

los sentimientos se destiñen y el olvido se desliza en las vidas como neblina. Se requiere una voluntad heroica para mantener todo en su sitio.