Pearl S. Buck Quotes

I do always have a wall up. But I feel by doing it, I keep myself safe.

I won't put myself in a position where I'm vulnerable.

I always try to avoid anything that has to do with my life.

It's easier to shut yourself off outside than reveal your inner thoughts.

I have no shame around the fact that I can be shot into suicidal feelings by certain people's treatment of me. I am no different to any other person, I therefore act as I believe any other person should be free to.

I'd rather be by myself than be spending any time or energy on somebody that I didn't feel sure about.

I am never proud to participate in violence, yet I know that each of us must care enough for ourselves that we can be ready and able to come to our own defense when and wherever needed.

I don't believe in poking nose in other people's matters, but when it comes to matters related to me or something that affects me, I will not shy away for saying something I believe.

I conditioned myself many years ago that nobody could hurt me.

The thing to do is to build a fortress within yourself.

I won't just give up anything to anybody because they're waving a gun around.

The less I give of myself to the public, the less I can be hurt.

You cannot protect your solitude if you cannot make yourself odious.

People don't want to be understood - I mean not completely. It's too destructive. Then they haven't anything left. They don't want complete sympathy or complete understanding. They want to be treated carelessly and taken for granted lots of times.

This is what I wanted most to avoid: for my rises and falls to become Tobias's rises and falls. That's why I can't let him step in to defend me now.

Government cannot be your parent.

Mind your own business.

No man can be truly free whose liberty is dependent upon the thought, feeling and action of others, and who has himself no means in his own hands for guarding, protecting, defending and maintaining that liberty

When security comes, every man for himself

Perhaps what I am about to say will appear strange to you gentlemen, socialists, progressives, humanitarians as you are, but I never worry about my neighbor, I never try to protect society which does not protect me -- indeed, I might add, which generally takes no heed of me except to do me harm -- and, since I hold them low in my esteem and remain neutral towards them, I believe that society and my neighbor are in my debt.

It's no good protecting people or even looking after them past a certain point. One can't grasp more than a piece of anyone. Most of the rest can only be protected by themselves and the remainder by hired specialists and doctors and dentists and professional protectors.

I don't have to explain anything to anybody.

I am not Captain Save-A-Ho; I can only save one at a time, and that's me!

All I can do is worry about me and my family. I don't really worry about anybody else, they have to do what works for them

For an impenetrable shield, stand inside yourself