Jamaica Kincaid Quotes

We read books to find out who we are.

I think everybody at some point - especially if they've been working their whole lives - should take time out and think about what they've done.

That's a part of me going back to what I used to do.

I caught up on a lot of just domestic normal everyday stuff, and grew up a lot, and went to therapy, and did a lot of contemplating and figuring things out. I needed to just strip everything away and figure out who I am and get to know myself, as cheesy as that sounds.

I always write to understand my place in the world. I can see myself and my life unfold on the page, and I can understand my strengths, my weaknesses - I can see where I need to step up a bit.

When you get to be a 45-year-old man, you start to realize: 'I know who I am, and I know who I'm not. I know my shortcomings, I know my strengths; maybe some of my shortcomings are my strengths.' You start to face yourself as you truly are.

I try and put myself in other peoples eyes, as I dont feel I've got anything new to say about myself at 23.

We have to have a very clear understanding of ourselves.

It's very important for people to know what gives them meaning. But it's hard for people to figure out if you're not connecting with yourself and taking the time to just be introspective and daydream.

Our true birthplace is that in which we cast for the first time an intelligent eye on ourselves. My first homelands were my books.

Sometimes we need to take back and take a look at ourselves, a look at where we are

I've looked in the mirror every day for 20 years. It's the same face.

REFLECTION,n: An Action of the mind whereby we obtain a clearer view of our relation to the things of yesterday and are able to avoid the perils that we shall not again encounter

No matter where you go, you always see yourself in the rearview mirror.

All of us must come to an honest, open self-examination, an awareness within as to who and what we want to be.

I've been criticized for not having perspective in the past and I thought that of myself many times but not there.

My personality doesn't interest me.

'What am I missing?' is a much more important question than 'How cool am I?'

It's not to late to... ask yourself if you really are the person you want to be, and if not, who you do want to be.

Reflection is not something you have a lot of time for.

Writing is a really good first step toward that goal of knowing yourself.

If you asked me for my New Year Resolution, it would be to find out who I am.

I feel like I've grown up a bit. I'm a bit more confident, and I've been reading more, and I've had a little more time to myself. I went on this writing trip to gather my thoughts about where and who I am in this world, and why we're all here.

I don't choose to analyze what I have done and I think that is the right choice, because then I won't be spending my time creating.

Maybe one day I can have a reunion with myself.