--- title: "24 Want Quotes By Junot Diaz" description: "24 Want quotes by Junot Diaz. Plus more from Junot Diaz and more Want sayings from other authors." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4c/junot-diaz-531_change_it-s-never-the-changes-we-want-that-chan_383220.jpg" --- > [It's never the changes we want that change everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/it-s-never-the-changes-we-want-that-change-everything/) [Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4c/junot-diaz-531_change_it-s-never-the-changes-we-want-that-chan_383220.jpg) > [You don't want to let go, but don't want to be hurt, either. It's not a great place to be but what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/you-don-t-want-to-let-go-but-don-t-want-to-be-hurt-either-it-s-not-a/) [Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/997/junot-diaz-531_hurt_you-don-t-want-to-let-go-but-don-t-want_497500.jpg) > [I prefer the 1950s where people were like, "I'm a white supremacist, and that's who I am." Now people want to burn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/i-prefer-the-1950s-where-people-were-like-i-m-a-white-supremacist-and/) [Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88c/junot-diaz-531_crosses_i-prefer-the-1950s-where-people-were-lik_1360919.jpg) > [People can say what they want, but historically, feminism in the Dominican Republic has been extremely strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/people-can-say-what-they-want-but-historically-feminism-in-the-2/) [Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/766/junot-diaz-531_dominican_people-can-say-what-they-want-but-histor_2854019.jpg) > [You really want to know what being an X-Man feels like? Just be a smart bookish boy of color in a contemporary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/you-really-want-to-know-what-being-an-x-man-feels-like-just-be-a/) [Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b5/junot-diaz-531_bats_you-really-want-to-know-what-being-an-x_2246876.jpg) > [If you really want a prize, or if you really want applause, you should try to write as many books as humanly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/if-you-really-want-a-prize-or-if-you-really-want-applause-you-should/) [Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3fe/junot-diaz-531_applause_if-you-really-want-a-prize-or-if-you-rea_2511646.jpg) > [In order to write the book you want to write, in the end you have to become the person you need to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/in-order-to-write-the-book-you-want-to-write-in-the-end-you-have-to/) [Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ecf/junot-diaz-531_book_in-order-to-write-the-book-you-want-to-w_2934648.jpg) > [If you want to make a human being into a monster, deny them, at the cultural level any reflection of themselves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/if-you-want-to-make-a-human-being-into-a-monster-deny-them-at-the/) [Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9a/junot-diaz-531_deny_if-you-want-to-make-a-human-being-into-a_3079162.jpg) > [This country wants to live in the illusion that it is tolerant but also wants to be able to practice intolerance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/this-country-wants-to-live-in-the-illusion-that-it-is-tolerant-but/) [Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce1/junot-diaz-531_able_this-country-wants-to-live-in-the-illusi_1954239.jpg) > [You said i could call you when i wanted but that you wouldn’t call me. you have to decide where and when,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/you-said-i-could-call-you-when-i-wanted-but-that-you-wouldn-t-call-me/) [Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/550/junot-diaz-531_call-me_you-said-i-could-call-you-when-i-wanted_2821271.jpg) > [ I know a number of people who - from the comments they make - are going to vote for \[Donald\] Trump when… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/i-know-a-number-of-people-who-from-the-comments-they-make-are-going/) [Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e0/junot-diaz-531_age_i-know-a-number-of-people-who-from-the-c_1454503.jpg) > [ \[Immigrating\] didn't burn out my desire to travel, though that can happen. There's nothing like immigration to make you want to just… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/immigrating-didn-t-burn-out-my-desire-to-travel-though-that-can/) [Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf1/junot-diaz-531_burn-out_immigrating-didn-t-burn-out-my-desire-to_847497.jpg) > [I think there's something really painful about your identity being entirely composed of ghosts. For me, I didn't want to be this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/i-think-there-s-something-really-painful-about-your-identity-being/) [Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82d/junot-diaz-531_abstraction_i-think-there-s-something-really-painful_2293401.jpg) > [But it's clear to me that us slow-poke writers are a dying breed. It's amazing how thoroughly my young writing students have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/but-it-s-clear-to-me-that-us-slow-poke-writers-are-a-dying-breed-it-s/) [Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3db/junot-diaz-531_artistic_but-it-s-clear-to-me-that-us-slow-poke-w_1732526.jpg) > [You must learn her. You must know the reason why she is silent. You must trace her weakest spots. You must write…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/you-must-learn-her-you-must-know-the-reason-why-she-is-silent-you/) [Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b09/junot-diaz-531_giving_you-must-learn-her-you-must-know-the-rea_1066210.jpg) > [Books are surviving in this intense, fragmented, hyper-accelerated present, and my sense and hope is that things will slow down again and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/books-are-surviving-in-this-intense-fragmented-hyper-accelerated/) [Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ba/junot-diaz-531_apps_books-are-surviving-in-this-intense-frag_847496.jpg) > [We're on speaking terms today. I say, Maybe we should hang out with the boys, and you shake your head. I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/we-re-on-speaking-terms-today-i-say-maybe-we-should-hang-out-with-the/) [Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f2/junot-diaz-531_arms_we-re-on-speaking-terms-today-i-say-mayb_654588.jpg) > [People can say what they want, but historically, feminism in the Dominican Republic has been extremely strong. I guess the best way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/people-can-say-what-they-want-but-historically-feminism-in-the/) [Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a48/junot-diaz-531_abandonment_people-can-say-what-they-want-but-histor_785966.jpg) > [On the outside, Oscar simply looked tired, no taller, no fatter, only the skin under his eyes, pouched from years of quiet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/on-the-outside-oscar-simply-looked-tired-no-taller-no-fatter-only-the/) [Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f5/junot-diaz-531_air_on-the-outside-oscar-simply-looked-tired_1621096.jpg) > [I think one of the paradoxes of writing fiction is when people enjoy it, they want it to be real. So they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/i-think-one-of-the-paradoxes-of-writing-fiction-is-when-people-enjoy/) [Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/029/junot-diaz-531_being-real_i-think-one-of-the-paradoxes-of-writing_1017040.jpg) > [ I came up under \[Ronald\] Reagan and under \[George\] Bush, and what are we to do now? We are here to fight.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/i-came-up-under-ronald-reagan-and-under-george-bush-and-what-are-we/) [Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ea/junot-diaz-531_dominican-republic_i-came-up-under-ronald-reagan-and-under_2170160.jpg) > [Love is the only thing - I don't want to say that "makes it bearable" - but I feel like without the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/love-is-the-only-thing-i-don-t-want-to-say-that-makes-it-bearable-but/) [Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a1/junot-diaz-531_bearable_love-is-the-only-thing-i-don-t-want-to-s_2840864.jpg) > [I just want some space to myself every now and then. Every time I’m with you I have this sense that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/i-just-want-some-space-to-myself-every-now-and-then-every-time-i-m/) [Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3f/junot-diaz-531_just_i-just-want-some-space-to-myself-every-n_802938.jpg) > [It took me 11 years to struggle through one dumb book, and every day you just want to give up. But you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/it-took-me-11-years-to-struggle-through-one-dumb-book-and-every-day/) [Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/245/junot-diaz-531_art_it-took-me-11-years-to-struggle-through_1419012.jpg) ## Other authors on Want ## More by Junot Diaz > [It might interest you that just as the U.S. was ramping up its involvement in Vietnam, LBJ launched an illegal invasion of the Dominican…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/it-might-interest-you-that-just-as-the-u-s-was-ramping-up-its/) [Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) > [Tell her that you love her hair, that you love her skin, her lips, because, in truth, you love them more than you love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/tell-her-that-you-love-her-hair-that-you-love-her-skin-her-lips/) [Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) > [It took me sixteen years to write.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/it-took-me-sixteen-years-to-write/) [Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) > [You ask everybody you know: How long does it usually take to get over it? There are many formulas. One year for every year…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/you-ask-everybody-you-know-how-long-does-it-usually-take-to-get-over/) [Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) > [Instead of finding himself in nerd heaven—where every nerd gets fifty-eight virgins to role-play with—he woke up in Robert Wood Johnson with two broken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/instead-of-finding-himself-in-nerd-heaven-where-every-nerd-gets-fifty/) [Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) > [The one thing about being a dude and writing from a female perspective is that the baseline is, you suck. The baseline is it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/the-one-thing-about-being-a-dude-and-writing-from-a-female/) [Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) > [“I used to think those were the barrio rules, Latinos and blacks in, whites out —a place we down cats weren’t supposed to go.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/i-used-to-think-those-were-the-barrio-rules-latinos-and-blacks-in/) [Junot Díaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) > [“I put my hand on her knee. I just wish you'd say you love me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/i-put-my-hand-on-her-knee-i-just-wish-you-d-say-you-love-me/) [Junot Díaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) > [I've always thought that you don't love a country by turning a blind eye to its crimes and to a problem. The way that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/i-ve-always-thought-that-you-don-t-love-a-country-by-turning-a-blind/) [Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) > [“Called her a whore and attacked her walls, tearing down her posters and throwing her books everywhere. I found out because some whitegirl ran…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/called-her-a-whore-and-attacked-her-walls-tearing-down-her-posters/) [Junot Díaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) > [You're Dominican only if you do this, this, and that. And if you do this and that, you'll be accepted to a certain degree…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/you-re-dominican-only-if-you-do-this-this-and-that-and-if-you-do-this/) [Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) > [“Ramfis fled the country after Trujillo's death, lived dissolutely off his father's swag, and ended up dying in a car crash of his own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/ramfis-fled-the-country-after-trujillo-s-death-lived-dissolutely-off/) [Junot Díaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) > [If you didn't grow up like I did then you don't know, and if you don't know it's probably better you don't judge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/if-you-didn-t-grow-up-like-i-did-then-you-don-t-know-and-if-you-don-t/) [Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) > [“If you ask me I don't think there are any such things as curses. I think there is only life. That's enough.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/if-you-ask-me-i-don-t-think-there-are-any-such-things-as-curses-i/) [Junot Díaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) > [The only difference between a published and unpublished writer is a tolerance for imperfection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/the-only-difference-between-a-published-and-unpublished-writer-is-a/) [Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "ItemList", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/junot-diaz/#itemlist", "name": "24 Want Quotes By Junot Diaz", "numberOfItems": 24, "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's never the changes we want that change everything.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Junot Diaz" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/it-s-never-the-changes-we-want-that-change-everything/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4c/junot-diaz-531_change_it-s-never-the-changes-we-want-that-chan_383220.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4c/junot-diaz-531_change_it-s-never-the-changes-we-want-that-chan_383220.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4c/junot-diaz-531_change_it-s-never-the-changes-we-want-that-chan_383220.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It's never the changes we want that change everything.” — Junot Diaz", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You don't want to let go, but don't want to be hurt, either. It's not a great place to be but what can I tell you?", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Junot Diaz" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/you-don-t-want-to-let-go-but-don-t-want-to-be-hurt-either-it-s-not-a/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/997/junot-diaz-531_hurt_you-don-t-want-to-let-go-but-don-t-want_497500.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/997/junot-diaz-531_hurt_you-don-t-want-to-let-go-but-don-t-want_497500.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/997/junot-diaz-531_hurt_you-don-t-want-to-let-go-but-don-t-want_497500.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You don't want to let go, but don't want to be hurt, either. 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Just be a smart bookish boy of color in a contemporary U.S. ghetto. Mamma mia! Like having bat wings or a pair of tentacles growing out of your chest.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Junot Diaz" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/you-really-want-to-know-what-being-an-x-man-feels-like-just-be-a/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b5/junot-diaz-531_bats_you-really-want-to-know-what-being-an-x_2246876.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b5/junot-diaz-531_bats_you-really-want-to-know-what-being-an-x_2246876.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b5/junot-diaz-531_bats_you-really-want-to-know-what-being-an-x_2246876.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You really want to know what being an X-Man feels like? Just be a smart bookish boy of color in a…” — Junot Diaz", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 6, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you really want a prize, or if you really want applause, you should try to write as many books as humanly possible.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Junot Diaz" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/if-you-really-want-a-prize-or-if-you-really-want-applause-you-should/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3fe/junot-diaz-531_applause_if-you-really-want-a-prize-or-if-you-rea_2511646.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3fe/junot-diaz-531_applause_if-you-really-want-a-prize-or-if-you-rea_2511646.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3fe/junot-diaz-531_applause_if-you-really-want-a-prize-or-if-you-rea_2511646.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If you really want a prize, or if you really want applause, you should try to write as many books as humanly…” — Junot Diaz", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 7, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In order to write the book you want to write, in the end you have to become the person you need to become to write that book.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Junot Diaz" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/in-order-to-write-the-book-you-want-to-write-in-the-end-you-have-to/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ecf/junot-diaz-531_book_in-order-to-write-the-book-you-want-to-w_2934648.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ecf/junot-diaz-531_book_in-order-to-write-the-book-you-want-to-w_2934648.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ecf/junot-diaz-531_book_in-order-to-write-the-book-you-want-to-w_2934648.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In order to write the book you want to write, in the end you have to become the person you need to become to…” — Junot Diaz", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 8, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you want to make a human being into a monster, deny them, at the cultural level any reflection of themselves", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Junot Diaz" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/if-you-want-to-make-a-human-being-into-a-monster-deny-them-at-the/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9a/junot-diaz-531_deny_if-you-want-to-make-a-human-being-into-a_3079162.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9a/junot-diaz-531_deny_if-you-want-to-make-a-human-being-into-a_3079162.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9a/junot-diaz-531_deny_if-you-want-to-make-a-human-being-into-a_3079162.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If you want to make a human being into a monster, deny them, at the cultural level any reflection of…” — Junot Diaz", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 9, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "This country wants to live in the illusion that it is tolerant but also wants to be able to practice intolerance.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Junot Diaz" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/this-country-wants-to-live-in-the-illusion-that-it-is-tolerant-but/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce1/junot-diaz-531_able_this-country-wants-to-live-in-the-illusi_1954239.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce1/junot-diaz-531_able_this-country-wants-to-live-in-the-illusi_1954239.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce1/junot-diaz-531_able_this-country-wants-to-live-in-the-illusi_1954239.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“This country wants to live in the illusion that it is tolerant but also wants to be able to practice…” — Junot Diaz", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 10, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You said i could call you when i wanted but that you wouldn’t call me. you have to decide where and when, you said. if you leave it up to me i’ll want to see you every day. At least you were honest, which is more than i can say for me.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Junot Diaz" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/you-said-i-could-call-you-when-i-wanted-but-that-you-wouldn-t-call-me/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/550/junot-diaz-531_call-me_you-said-i-could-call-you-when-i-wanted_2821271.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/550/junot-diaz-531_call-me_you-said-i-could-call-you-when-i-wanted_2821271.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/550/junot-diaz-531_call-me_you-said-i-could-call-you-when-i-wanted_2821271.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You said i could call you when i wanted but that you wouldn’t call me. you have to decide where and when…” — Junot Diaz", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 11, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I know a number of people who - from the comments they make - are going to vote for [Donald] Trump when that curtain closes. But let's keep it real honest here: They are voting for a xenophobic, anti-Latino white supremacist - don't try to pretty it up. 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There's nothing like immigration to make you want to just stay put. But what I think of as home is this life between Santo Domingo and the parts of New Jersey and New York City that were my childhood, so in my mind it's like home is all those things combined.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Junot Diaz" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/immigrating-didn-t-burn-out-my-desire-to-travel-though-that-can/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf1/junot-diaz-531_burn-out_immigrating-didn-t-burn-out-my-desire-to_847497.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf1/junot-diaz-531_burn-out_immigrating-didn-t-burn-out-my-desire-to_847497.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf1/junot-diaz-531_burn-out_immigrating-didn-t-burn-out-my-desire-to_847497.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“[Immigrating] didn't burn out my desire to travel, though that can happen. There's nothing like immigration…” — Junot Diaz", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 13, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think there's something really painful about your identity being entirely composed of ghosts. For me, I didn't want to be this kid whose Dominicanness was something caught utterly in the past, is an abstraction, the thing that I write about. Instead I wanted it to be, first and foremost, a thing that I lived.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Junot Diaz" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/i-think-there-s-something-really-painful-about-your-identity-being/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82d/junot-diaz-531_abstraction_i-think-there-s-something-really-painful_2293401.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82d/junot-diaz-531_abstraction_i-think-there-s-something-really-painful_2293401.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82d/junot-diaz-531_abstraction_i-think-there-s-something-really-painful_2293401.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I think there's something really painful about your identity being entirely composed of ghosts. For me, I…” — Junot Diaz", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 14, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "But it's clear to me that us slow-poke writers are a dying breed. It's amazing how thoroughly my young writing students have internalized the new machine rhythm, the rush many of my young writers are in to publish. The majority don't want to sit on a book for four, five years. The majority don't want to listen to the silence inside and outside for their artistic imprimatur. The majority want to publish fast, publish now.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Junot Diaz" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/but-it-s-clear-to-me-that-us-slow-poke-writers-are-a-dying-breed-it-s/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3db/junot-diaz-531_artistic_but-it-s-clear-to-me-that-us-slow-poke-w_1732526.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3db/junot-diaz-531_artistic_but-it-s-clear-to-me-that-us-slow-poke-w_1732526.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3db/junot-diaz-531_artistic_but-it-s-clear-to-me-that-us-slow-poke-w_1732526.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“But it's clear to me that us slow-poke writers are a dying breed. It's amazing how thoroughly my young…” — Junot Diaz", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 15, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You must learn her. You must know the reason why she is silent. You must trace her weakest spots. You must write to her. You must remind her that you are there. You must know how long it takes for her to give up. You must be there to hold her when she is about to. You must love her because many have tried and failed. And she wants to know that she is worthy to be loved, that she is worthy to be kept. 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You must…” — Junot Diaz", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 16, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Books are surviving in this intense, fragmented, hyper-accelerated present, and my sense and hope is that things will slow down again and people will want more time for a contemplative life. There is no way people can keep up this pace. No one is happy. Two or three hours to read should not be an unattainable thing, although I hope we get to that stage without needing a corporate sponsored app to hold our hand. The utopian in me has my fingers crossed that we haven't quite figured out the digital future just yet. 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I say, Maybe we should hang out with the boys, and you shake your head. I want to spend time with you, you say. If we're still good, next week maybe. That's the most we can hope for. Nothing thrown, nothing said that we might remember for years. You watch me while you put a brush through your hair. Each strand that breaks is as long as my arm. You don't want to let go, but don't want to be hurt, either. 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I…” — Junot Diaz", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 18, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "People can say what they want, but historically, feminism in the Dominican Republic has been extremely strong. I guess the best way of saying it is that no one could have survived what we survived - whether it was first extermination and slavery, then abandonment and erasure, then the series of gunboat two-bit dictatorships, followed by the final apotheosis of dictatorships, the Trujillato. You couldn't survive it without the resistance of this kind of woman.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Junot Diaz" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/people-can-say-what-they-want-but-historically-feminism-in-the/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a48/junot-diaz-531_abandonment_people-can-say-what-they-want-but-histor_785966.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a48/junot-diaz-531_abandonment_people-can-say-what-they-want-but-histor_785966.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a48/junot-diaz-531_abandonment_people-can-say-what-they-want-but-histor_785966.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“People can say what they want, but historically, feminism in the Dominican Republic has been extremely…” — Junot Diaz", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 19, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "On the outside, Oscar simply looked tired, no taller, no fatter, only the skin under his eyes, pouched from years of quiet desperation, had changed. Inside, he was in a world of hurt. He saw black flashes before his eyes. He saw himself falling through the air. He knew what he was turning into. He was turning into the worst kind of human on the planet: an old bitter dork. Saw himself at the Game Room, picking through the miniatures for the rest of his life. He didn't want this future but he couldn't see how it could be avoided, couldn't figure his way out of it. Fukú.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Junot Diaz" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/on-the-outside-oscar-simply-looked-tired-no-taller-no-fatter-only-the/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f5/junot-diaz-531_air_on-the-outside-oscar-simply-looked-tired_1621096.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f5/junot-diaz-531_air_on-the-outside-oscar-simply-looked-tired_1621096.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f5/junot-diaz-531_air_on-the-outside-oscar-simply-looked-tired_1621096.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“On the outside, Oscar simply looked tired, no taller, no fatter, only the skin under his eyes, pouched from…” — Junot Diaz", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 20, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think one of the paradoxes of writing fiction is when people enjoy it, they want it to be real. So they look for connections.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Junot Diaz" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/i-think-one-of-the-paradoxes-of-writing-fiction-is-when-people-enjoy/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/029/junot-diaz-531_being-real_i-think-one-of-the-paradoxes-of-writing_1017040.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/029/junot-diaz-531_being-real_i-think-one-of-the-paradoxes-of-writing_1017040.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/029/junot-diaz-531_being-real_i-think-one-of-the-paradoxes-of-writing_1017040.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I think one of the paradoxes of writing fiction is when people enjoy it, they want it to be real. So they…” — Junot Diaz", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 21, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I came up under [Ronald] Reagan and under [George] Bush, and what are we to do now? We are here to fight. People can run off all they want. But for me, [Donald] Trump is already in the Dominican Republic.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Junot Diaz" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/i-came-up-under-ronald-reagan-and-under-george-bush-and-what-are-we/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ea/junot-diaz-531_dominican-republic_i-came-up-under-ronald-reagan-and-under_2170160.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ea/junot-diaz-531_dominican-republic_i-came-up-under-ronald-reagan-and-under_2170160.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ea/junot-diaz-531_dominican-republic_i-came-up-under-ronald-reagan-and-under_2170160.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I came up under [Ronald] Reagan and under [George] Bush, and what are we to do now? We are here to fight…” — Junot Diaz", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 22, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Love is the only thing - I don't want to say that \"makes it bearable\" - but I feel like without the possibility of love, this place would just devour us.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Junot Diaz" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/love-is-the-only-thing-i-don-t-want-to-say-that-makes-it-bearable-but/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a1/junot-diaz-531_bearable_love-is-the-only-thing-i-don-t-want-to-s_2840864.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a1/junot-diaz-531_bearable_love-is-the-only-thing-i-don-t-want-to-s_2840864.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a1/junot-diaz-531_bearable_love-is-the-only-thing-i-don-t-want-to-s_2840864.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Love is the only thing - I don't want to say that \"makes it bearable\" - but I feel like without the…” — Junot Diaz", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 23, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I just want some space to myself every now and then. Every time I’m with you I have this sense that you want something from me.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Junot Diaz" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/i-just-want-some-space-to-myself-every-now-and-then-every-time-i-m/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3f/junot-diaz-531_just_i-just-want-some-space-to-myself-every-n_802938.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3f/junot-diaz-531_just_i-just-want-some-space-to-myself-every-n_802938.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3f/junot-diaz-531_just_i-just-want-some-space-to-myself-every-n_802938.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I just want some space to myself every now and then. 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