Laurie Colwin Quotes

Powerful Laurie Colwin for Daily Growth

About Laurie Colwin

Laurie Colwin (July 14, 1944 – February 24, 1992) was an acclaimed American author known for her witty, warm, and deeply human stories. Born in New York City to Jewish parents, she spent her early years in Manhattan before moving with her family to Scarsdale, Westchester County. Her love for literature blossomed in the public libraries of Scarsdale, where she spent countless hours immersed in books. Colwin attended Radcliffe College and later Harvard University, earning a Master's degree in English. After college, she worked as an editor for various publishing houses, which provided her with valuable insights into the literary world. Her experiences during this time would later influence her own writing. In 1968, Colwin published her first novel, 'Sunday's Children,' followed by 'The Lone Pilot' in 1973. However, it was her collection of short stories, 'Home Cooking: A Writer in the Kitchen' (1980), that brought her widespread recognition. The book combined Colwin's love for cooking and storytelling, offering a unique perspective on life through the lens of food and family. Colwin's major works include the novels 'Shirley Walker' (1978) and 'Family Happiness' (1992), as well as several collections of short stories like 'At the Edge of the Ghetto' (1968) and 'Migraine' (1985). Her writing is characterized by its warmth, humor, and empathy, reflecting her deep understanding of human nature. Despite battling migraines throughout her life, Colwin was a prolific writer. She continued to produce works that touched readers around the world until her untimely death in 1992 at the age of 47. Today, Laurie Colwin is remembered as one of America's most beloved authors and a shining example of storytelling talent.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Love moves in upon us like a river, enchanting, bewildering, and deep."

This quote by Laurie Colwin suggests that love is an all-consuming and powerful force, akin to a river. It's both charming and perplexing, as it captivates us in a way we can't always understand or explain. Its depth underscores the profound impact of love, something that can be deeply felt yet hard to fathom fully, much like the depths of a river.


"The only thing that makes life possible is permanent, intolerable uncertainty; not knowing what comes next."

This quote emphasizes that the essence of life lies in its constant unpredictability and mystery. It suggests that the anticipation and unfamiliarity of future events are crucial factors contributing to the continuation of life. The uncertainty encourages growth, adaptability, and resilience as we navigate through life's twists and turns. In other words, not knowing what comes next forces us to stay open-minded, flexible, and engaged with the world around us.


"There is no love more sincere than the love of food."

Laurie Colwin's quote, "There is no love more sincere than the love of food," suggests that people can exhibit an extremely genuine and heartfelt affection towards food. This could refer to the pleasure derived from savoring flavors, the joy of preparing meals for loved ones, or even the bond formed through shared culinary experiences. Food plays a fundamental role in our daily lives, bringing comfort, fostering connections, and creating memories. In essence, Colwin's quote emphasizes the profound emotional significance that food holds within human relationships and culture.


"I have come to believe that there is no greater gift than a family dinner, or family picnic, where everyone is expected to be there and preferred not to be anywhere else."

This quote highlights the profound value of shared family meals as a time for connection, unity, and belonging. In a world that can often feel fragmented and busy, these gatherings provide an opportunity for loved ones to come together, put aside distractions, and simply enjoy each other's company. They serve as a reminder that despite the demands of modern life, it is essential to nurture and cherish our family relationships by regularly setting aside time for shared experiences like meals or picnics.


"The act of cooking is one of love, the only unselfish love."

Laurie Colwin's quote implies that preparing a meal for someone else is an expression of genuine, selfless affection. Cooking involves time, effort, and care – qualities often associated with love. By providing nourishment for the body and soul, a cook demonstrates concern, thoughtfulness, and compassion towards the recipient. This act transcends simple sustenance; it becomes a means of showing affection and caring for another person.


The table is a meeting place, a gathering ground, the source of sustenance and nourishment, festivity, safety, and satisfaction. A person cooking is a person giving: Even the simplest food is a gift.

- Laurie Colwin

Gift, Simplest, Sustenance, Source

There is nothing like roast chicken. It is helpful and agreeable, the perfect dish no matter what the circumstances. Elegant or homey, a dish for a dinner party or a family supper, it will not let you down.

- Laurie Colwin

Chicken, Circumstances, Dinner Party

No one who cooks, cooks alone. Even at her most solitary, a cook in the kitchen is surrounded by generations of cooks past, the advice and menus of cooks present, and the wisdom of cookbook writers.

- Laurie Colwin

Past, Cook, Surrounded, Kitchen

The best way to feel at ease in the kitchen is to learn at someone's knee.

- Laurie Colwin

Knee, Ease, Best Way, Kitchen

Somehow or other, I always end up in a kitchen feeding a crowd.

- Laurie Colwin

Crowd, Always, Other, Kitchen

As everyone knows, there is only one way to fry chicken correctly. Unfortunately, most people think their method is best, but most people are wrong. Mine is the only right way, and on this subject I feel almost evangelical.

- Laurie Colwin

Chicken, Almost, Subject, Right Way

Not everyone can write a book or paint a picture or write a symphony, but almost anyone can fall in love. There is something almost miraculous in that.

- Laurie Colwin

Love, Fall, Miraculous, Symphony

Provision as much pure and organic food as you can, and let the rest go by.

- Laurie Colwin

Rest, Go, Organic Food, Provision

When it comes to cakes and puddings, savouries, bread and tea cakes, the English cannot be surpassed.

- Laurie Colwin

Tea, Bread, English, Cakes

It is my opinion that Norman Rockwell and his ilk have done more to make already anxious people feel guilty than anyone else.

- Laurie Colwin

More, Feel, Norman Rockwell, Norman

The sharing of food is the basis of social life.

- Laurie Colwin

Sharing, Social, Basis, Social Life

The fact is that modern life has deprived us of life's one great luxury: time.

- Laurie Colwin

Luxury, Fact, Modern, Deprived

I come from a coffee-loving family, and you can always tell when my sister and I have been around, because both of us collect all the dead coffee from everyone's morning cup, pour it over ice, and drink it. This is a disgusting habit.

- Laurie Colwin

Dead, Tell, Been, Collect

My idea of a good time abroad is to visit someone's house and hang out, poking into their cupboards if they will let me.

- Laurie Colwin

Will, Hang, Abroad, Visit

When I was alone, I lived on eggplant, the stove top cook's strongest ally. I fried it and stewed it, and ate it crisp and sludgy, hot and cold. It was cheap and filling and was delicious in all manner of strange combinations. If any was left over, I ate it cold the next day on bread.

- Laurie Colwin

Cold, Next, Manner, Stove

Certainly, cooking for oneself reveals man at his weirdest.

- Laurie Colwin

Certainly, His, Reveals, Weirdest

I myself am not particularly interested in restaurant cooking. I don't really want to learn how to make a napoleon. I'd much rather learn how to make a very good lemon cake, which you can make in your own home. I like plain, old-fashioned home food.

- Laurie Colwin

Own, Rather, Very, Plain

I am not a fancy cook or an ambitious cook. I am a plain old cook.

- Laurie Colwin

I Am, Fancy, Ambitious, Plain

Unlike some people who love to go out, I love to stay home.

- Laurie Colwin

Love, Some, I Love, Unlike

The thing about homebodies is that they can usually be found at home. I usually am, and I like to feed people.

- Laurie Colwin

Like, Found, About, Feed

Cooking is like love. You don't have to be particularly beautiful or very glamorous, or even very exciting to fall in love. You just have to be interested in it. It's the same thing with food.

- Laurie Colwin

Love, Very, Particularly, Love You

We know that without food we would die. Without fellowship, life is not worth living.

- Laurie Colwin

Die, Worth Living, Living, Fellowship

We need time to defuse, to contemplate. Just as in sleep our brains relax and give us dreams, so at some time in the day we need to disconnect, reconnect, and look around us.

- Laurie Colwin

Give, Need, Some, Disconnect

Cooking is like anything else: some people have an inborn talent for it. Some become expert by practicing, and some learn from books.

- Laurie Colwin

Expert, Some, Like, Cooking

One of the delights of life is eating with friends; second to that is talking about eating. And, for an unsurpassed double whammy, there is talking about eating while you are eating with friends.

- Laurie Colwin

Double, Talking, About, Delights

It is not just the Great Works of mankind that make a culture. It is the daily things, like what people eat and how they serve it.

- Laurie Colwin

Mankind, Like, Works, Daily

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