Shirley Knight Quotes

Speaking about my children is off limits.

I don't really like to share deep issues or anything like that. I have a problem with that. I don't really like to talk about some stuff.

Certain family matters should always remain private within the family.

There are certain things I do not talk about.

I can't answer for my mother. She was a very private person, and did not discuss a lot of things.

She's afraid to tell me anything important, knowing I'll only turn around and write about it. In my mind, I'm like a friendly junkman, building things from the little pieces of scrap I find here and there, but my family's started to see things differently. Their personal lives are the so-called pieces of scrap I so casually pick up, and they're sick of it. More and more often their stories begin with the line "You have to swear you'll never repeat this." I always promise, but it's generally understood that my word means nothing.

There are secrets in all families.

It's great if the in-laws themselves put up boundaries. But if they won't; it's up to their grown kids to do it and enforce them.

I have been called a nun with a switchblade where my privacy is concerned. I think there's a point where one says, that's for family, that's for me.

Do parents sit down and tell their kids everything? I don't know. I don't know.

My parents were very indiscrete.

My son says I never tell stories about anyone who's living.

What do you say to your sister who poses in the nude? It's not like you are really itching to see photographs of your sister naked. I mean, it's just something that is not too exciting.

Happy or unhappy, families are all mysterious. We have only to imagine how differently we would be described - and will be, after our deaths - by each of the family members who believe they know us.

It's my theory that many writers were the confidantes of one or the other parent. I was my mother's confidante; she had been her mother's confidante.

I think moms need to share information on a regular, intimate basis.

Family matters should be that and stay in the family.

I don't think my parents know what I do.

I feel that certain things are best kept inside a family and not discussed with anyone else.

If I differ with my husband, I certainly would not tell you.

Every family has that secret. Every family has that thing where you go, 'Shhh, shhh, shhh.'

I just don't think it's appropriate talking about family stuff publicly.

Being the way I used to be didn't really fit the family profile. I was always loved but if, say, Dad had an interesting business idea I'd be the last person he'd want to share it with in case I blew the lid on it.

That's something that I struggled with - talking to my mother about some of the problems that I had.

I think the ideal situation for a family is to be completely incestuous.