“The child will grow up and find out things for herself. She will know that I lied. She will be disappointed." "That… — Betty Smith Copy Share Image
“Sissy had two great failings. She was a great lover and a great mother. She had so much of tenderness in her,… — Betty Smith Copy Share Image
It is a good thing to learn the truth one's self. To first believe with all your heart, and then not to… — Betty Smith Copy Share Image
Because the child must have a valuable thing which is called imagination. The child must have a secret world in which live… — Betty Smith Copy Share Image
“And the child, Francie Nolan, was of all the Rommelys and all the Nolans. She had the violent weaknesses and passion for… — Betty Smith Copy Share Image
“If there was only one tree like that in the world, you would think it was beautiful,” said Katie. “But because there… — Betty Smith Copy Share Image
And you must tell the child the legends I told you--as my mother told them to me and her mother to her.… — Betty Smith Copy Share Image
“engaged," he said bitterly. "Everybody's engaged. Everybody in a small town is engaged or married or in trouble. There's nothing else to… — Betty Smith Copy Share Image
“Because," explained Mary Rommely simply, "the child must have a valuable thing which is called imagination. The child must have a secret… — Betty Smith Copy Share Image
“Oh, and you must not forget the Kris Kringle. The child must believe in him until she reaches the age of six."… — Betty Smith Copy Share Image
“They had grown out of childhood in the last few days. Christmas as Christmas had passed unnoticed since their father had died… — Betty Smith Copy Share Image
“The neighborhood stores are an important part of a city child's life. They are his contact with the supplies that keep life… — Betty Smith Copy Share Image
“The child must have a valuable thing which Is called imagination. The child must have a secret world in which live things… — Betty Smith Copy Share Image
“You must teach the child of the signs that come to the women of our family when there is trouble and death… — Betty Smith Copy Share Image
In teaching your child, do not forget that suffering is good too. It makes a person rich in character. — Betty Smith Copy Share Image
“When the children were ready to go to bed, Katie did something very unusual. It was unusual because she was not a… — Betty Smith Copy Share Image
Intolerance is a thing that causes war, pogroms, crucifixions, lynchings, and makes people cruel to little children and each other. It is… — Betty Smith Copy Share Image
“The child will grow up and find out things for herself. She will know that I lied. She will be disappointed." "That… — Betty Smith Copy Share Image
It's come at last," she thought, "the time when you can no longer stand between your children and heartache. When there wasn't… — Betty Smith Copy Share Image
Mother, I am young. Mother, I am just eighteen. I am strong. I will work hard, Mother. But I do not want… — Betty Smith Copy Share Image
“Francie, huddled with other children of her kind, learned more that first day than she realized. She learned of the class system… — Betty Smith Copy Share Image
“He was a baby once. He must have been sweet and clean and his mother kissed his little pink toes. Maybe when… — Betty Smith Copy Share Image
“Why? When I, myself do not believe? "Because,"explained Mary Rommely simply, "the child must have a valuable thing which is called imagination.… — Betty Smith Copy Share Image
“Most women had the one thing in common: they had great pain when they gave birth to their children. This should make… — Betty Smith Copy Share Image
“Yes, when I get big and have my own home, no plush chairs and lace curtains for me. And no rubber plants. I'll have… — Betty Smith Copy Share Image
“Several times that day, the name or thought of Papa had come up. And each time, Francie had felt a flash of tenderness instead… — Betty Smith Copy Share Image
As long as one can suffer, one is living....live and suffer until life is gone. — Betty Smith Copy Share Image
“Sissy told them they were way behind the times; that midwives were things of the past. Besides, she informed them proudly, she had no… — Betty Smith Copy Share Image
“Why, Mrs McGarrity's all right. Mr McGarrity's all right, too. Only I guess they aren't all right to each other.” — Betty Smith Copy Share Image
“I drink because I don't stand a chance and I know it. I couldn't drive a truck and I couldn't get on the cops… — Betty Smith Copy Share Image
“Pipe dreams, he thought to himself, even while he was telling her about his dream winnings. But oh, how wonderful, he thought, if everything… — Betty Smith Copy Share Image
“Who wants to die? Everything struggles to live. Look at that tree growing up there out of that grating. It gets no sun, and… — Betty Smith Copy Share Image
“She sat in the sunshine watching the life on the street and guarding within herself, her own mystery of life.” — Betty Smith Copy Share Image
...the reading, the observing, the living from day to day. It was something that had been born into her and her only - the… — Betty Smith Copy Share Image
People always think that happiness is a faraway thing … something complicated and hard to get. Yet, what little things can make it up. — Betty Smith Copy Share Image
