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Susan Isaacs Quotes

Powerful Susan Isaacs for Daily Growth

About Susan Isaacs

Susan Isaacs (born May 19, 1948) is an acclaimed American novelist, essayist, and playwright who has made significant contributions to contemporary women's literature. Born in New York City, Isaacs grew up in a Jewish family with strong literary influences. Her father, Morris Isaacs, was a lawyer who also wrote poetry, and her mother, Florence Isaacs, was an artist and writer. This creative environment nurtured Susan's passion for storytelling from an early age. Isaacs attended Vassar College, where she studied English literature. After graduating, she worked as a journalist in New York City before moving to London in the 1970s to study at the Royal Court School of Drama. This transition led her to write plays, including "Married Alive" and "Tender Trap," which were produced on both sides of the Atlantic. In 1986, Isaacs published her first novel, "Compromising Positions," a darkly comic tale of infidelity and revenge set in New York's Upper East Side. The book was an immediate success, garnering critical acclaim and establishing Isaacs as a major voice in contemporary literature. Her subsequent novels, such as "Black and Blue" (1988), "Shining Cuckoo" (1990), and "Morningstar: A Novel of Suspense" (1994), continued to explore themes of power, deception, and the complexities of human relationships. Isaacs's works are noted for their sharp wit, incisive social commentary, and intricate character development. Her novels often delve into the darker aspects of human nature, offering a unique insight into the lives of women navigating modern society. Isaacs continues to write and is widely regarded as one of America's most talented contemporary authors.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"The best revenge is not to be like them."

This quote emphasizes the power in choosing personal growth and integrity over petty acts of retaliation or mimicking others' harmful behaviors. By rising above negativity, one demonstrates maturity, self-respect, and a commitment to living authentically and compassionately. It encourages individuals to focus on self-improvement and maintaining their moral compass rather than stooping to the same level as those who have wronged them. Essentially, it promotes the idea that true strength lies in personal growth and positive change.

"Life's too short for fake people and their drama."

This quote by Susan Isaacs suggests that one should prioritize authentic relationships in life, as time is a valuable resource. The phrase "fake people" likely refers to individuals who are insincere or disingenuous in their interactions with others, while "their drama" implies unnecessary conflicts and emotional turmoil caused by these artificial relationships. In essence, the quote encourages us to focus on genuine connections that contribute positively to our lives, rather than wasting time on people and situations that are not genuine or do not add value.

"Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: What! You too? I thought I was the only one."

This quote by Susan Isaacs highlights a universal human experience: the feeling of camaraderie and understanding that arises when we find someone who shares our thoughts, feelings, or experiences. It suggests that friendships often begin when individuals realize they are not alone in their unique perspectives or challenges, fostering empathy, connection, and mutual respect. This shared sense of "You too?" can serve as a powerful bond, reinforcing the idea that friendship is an essential aspect of our emotional well-being and personal growth.

"When you start seeing your therapist more often than your hairdresser, you've got problems."

This quote suggests that if a person is seeking therapy or counseling more frequently than their regular beauty appointments (hairdressing in this case), it may indicate deep emotional struggles or issues that require attention and support. In other words, the frequency of therapy visits could be an indication of one's mental health status, and an increase in such visits might signal that a person is grappling with personal problems or challenges.

"If we're not willing to settle for just ordinary kindness, then we have no right to expect it from others."

This quote by Susan Isaacs suggests that if one doesn't strive for ordinary acts of kindness themselves, they should not expect the same from others. Essentially, it is a reminder that kindness is a two-way street; if we want to receive it, we must also be willing to extend it. It emphasizes the importance of setting personal standards and demonstrating kindness consistently as a way to cultivate a more compassionate community.

As for writing novels - it's what I've done for 30 some-odd years. I can't suddenly say I'm going to take up golf. I need something in my life. As long as I can write a coherent sentence, I'll keep at it.

- Susan Isaacs

Life, My Life, Years, Coherent

I've had lots of commercial success. I've also had some terrible reviews and some wonderful reviews.

- Susan Isaacs

Some, Commercial, Lots, Reviews

As soon as someone is coming from New York, I automatically think I have to get dressed up.

- Susan Isaacs

Think, New, Dressed, Automatically

It's not all 'Jane Eyre' out there. In her sweet, honorable, slightly passive-aggressive way, Jane was as perfect as a protagonist can get while remaining interesting; in fact, she's one of my favorites. But most characters are more morally ambiguous.

- Susan Isaacs

Fact, Favorites, Slightly, Morally

I wanted to be a cowgirl... But, you know, it was pointed out to me that, you know, growing up in Brooklyn, there wasn't much opportunity... for cowgirlery.

- Susan Isaacs

Opportunity, Growing, Out, Pointed

I was always the weirdo who wanted to have an egalitarian service in synagogue and felt I was always going against the grain.

- Susan Isaacs

Always, Wanted, Weirdo, Synagogue

My first novel, 'Compromising Positions,' was a whodunit. The protagonist was a Long Island Jewish housewife who turns private investigator. But she was Jewish the way I was: lighting Sabbath candles but envying her Protestant and Catholic friends' December decorating options.

- Susan Isaacs

Jewish, Private, Long Island, Decorating

Being a novelist is the adult version of a kid creating a make-believe world. But unlike a child, a writer of fiction has to come up with a structured story, one that has as much meaning for others as it has for her.

- Susan Isaacs

Kid, Fiction, Make-Believe, Novelist

For a novelist, no matter what, it's a complete work, even if it's not published. But if you write a screenplay, and it's not performed, then it's a sad and frustrating experience.

- Susan Isaacs

Work, Published, Then, Novelist

Could there be a cowgirl in my future? You know, I never know what character is going to come and tap me on the shoulder and say, 'Hey, tell my story.' So maybe the next one will have boots.

- Susan Isaacs

Next, Going, Tap, Shoulder

I hate when people say, 'Oh, they laughed all the way to the bank.' That's nonsense because the most cynical, unhappy people are Hollywood screenwriters. They earn hundreds of thousands of dollars a year for work that's never made.

- Susan Isaacs

Year, Hollywood, Dollars, Cynical

There is no 'right' way to begin a novel, but for me, plot has to wait. The character comes first.

- Susan Isaacs

Character, Wait, Plot, Right Way

It's not that I'm apolitical... In my youth, I was a freelance political speechwriter, which taught me a lot about writing fiction, I must add.

- Susan Isaacs

Fiction, Add, Which, Freelance

It's no coincidence that I began writing the day my daughter started school. I knew everything I knew before I began to write, but I was raising two children and didn't have the time to get to the typewriter.

- Susan Isaacs

Before, Began, Raising, Coincidence

There are days where I lose track of time, of place, of everything else, because I've been transported to another universe.

- Susan Isaacs

Lose, Been, Another, Everything Else

I love being a grandparent. I'm one of those you want to avoid - I pull out the iPhone and say, 'Hey, wanna see my camera roll?'

- Susan Isaacs

Love, Want, Roll, Hey

We joined a Conservative synagogue. I began learning through engagement, rote and reading. Suddenly, I belonged... well, to the extent that a novelist can ever feel she is part of a group; we may be part of a minyan, but we're not fully merged into the community.

- Susan Isaacs

Through, Engagement, Extent, Fully

Whether you're an obstetrician or a third-grade teacher or a real estate agent, you know when you're doing good work. You're passionate about it.

- Susan Isaacs

Doing, Passionate, Agent, Doing Good

I am married to a happy camper. He's a criminal lawyer who thinks people are inherently good and will befriend him. His father, at 93, is the same way.

- Susan Isaacs

Father, Happy, Will, Criminal

I like to show ordinary people reacting to extraordinary circumstances. It's an opportunity for adventure, and I like women to have adventures. There's been far too little of it with women.

- Susan Isaacs

Circumstances, Like, Been, Reacting

Just as you can accept Miss Marple going to tea with the vicar, there's no reason why Long Island can't have a universality to it.

- Susan Isaacs

Long Island, Universality, Vicar

Everyone has early fiction fantasies, but it wasn't until my second child Betsy was born that I allowed the urge to write a novel bubble up.

- Susan Isaacs

Fiction, Everyone, Fantasies, Novel

There are so many different worlds in Long Island. That's why it's so fascinating. Between Great Neck and Montauk, there are 10,000 worlds.

- Susan Isaacs

Island, Long Island, Worlds, Different Worlds

I see myself as writing biographies, the complete story of someone's life.

- Susan Isaacs

Myself, See, Someone, Complete

With my middle-class metabolism, the suburbs were where I always wanted to be.

- Susan Isaacs

Always, Middle-Class, Wanted, Metabolism

I never failed at anything in fiction.

- Susan Isaacs

Never, Anything, Fiction, Failed

I must have been yearning for some Jewish content beyond my genetic makeup because soon after my 21st birthday, I noticed I was no longer dating WASPs.

- Susan Isaacs

Birthday, Makeup, Genetic, Noticed

Our culture is so celebrity-obsessed that for individuals to show they matter, they need to display their intimacy to fame.

- Susan Isaacs

Culture, Intimacy, Need, Display

I can only write about two or three pages of fiction a day.

- Susan Isaacs

Fiction, Only, About, Pages

Style is not my long suit, but I'm really fascinated by it.

- Susan Isaacs

Long, Suit, Fascinated, Style

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