“Who'd ever guess," said Francie, ¨looking at the outside of him, that he was so different inside?¨” — Betty Smith Different Copy Share Image
“You must learn to take a joke, Francie, otherwise life will be pretty hard on you.” — Betty Smith Comedy Copy Share Image
Look at everything always as though you were seeing it either for the first or last time: Thus is your time on… — Betty Smith Earth Copy Share Image
“She loved the library and was anxious to worship the lady in charge. But the librarian had other things on her mind.… — Betty Smith Children Copy Share Image
“An eleven-year-old girl sitting on this fire escape could imagine that she was living in a tree.” — Betty Smith Girl Copy Share Image
She was surprised at how tiny the school seemed now. She supposed it was just as big as it had ever been… — Betty Smith Bigger Copy Share Image
Well' Francie decided, 'I guess the thing that is giving me this headache is life - and nothing else but'. — Betty Smith Giving Copy Share Image
There's a tree that grows in Brooklyn. Some people call it the Tree of Heaven. No matter where its seed falls, it… — Betty Smith Brooklyn Copy Share Image
I came to a clear conclusion, and it is a universal one: To live, to struggle, to be in love with life--in… — Betty Smith Clear Copy Share Image
“If I open this envelope fifty years from now, I will be again as I am now and there will be no… — Betty Smith Life Copy Share Image
I know that's what people say-- you'll get over it. I'd say it, too. But I know it's not true. Oh, youll… — Betty Smith Fall in love Copy Share Image
This could be a whole life," she thought. "You work eight hours a day covering wires to earn money to buy food… — Betty Smith Born Copy Share Image
Katie had a fierce desire for survival which made her a fighter. Johnny had a hankering after immortality which made him a… — Betty Smith Desire Copy Share Image
Sometimes I think it's better to suffer bitter unhappiness and to fight and to scream out, and even to suffer that terrible… — Betty Smith Bitter Copy Share Image
She told Papa about it. He made her stick out her tongue and he felt her wrist. He shook his head sadly… — Betty Smith Cases Copy Share Image
“If he went around looking into people’s windows like you say, He’d see how things were here; He’d see that it was… — Betty Smith Looking Copy Share Image
“Hildy O’Dair is old for her age,” she thought. “It’s like powder was sprinkled on her yellow hair. But she’s not much… — Betty Smith Best friend Copy Share Image
“Everything was changing. Francie was in a panic. Her world was slipping away from her and what would take its place? Still,… — Betty Smith Bible Copy Share Image
“A person who pulls himself up from a low environment via the bootstrap route has two choices. Having risen above his environment,… — Betty Smith Compassion Copy Share Image
“Francie always remembered what that kind teacher told her. “You know, Francie, a lot of people would think that these stories that… — Betty Smith Lies 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… — Betty Smith Judaism Copy Share Image
“He fussed and argued and finally went away saying he’d bring back the deed. Mama sent Francie over to Sissy’s house to… — Betty Smith Years ago Copy Share Image
“She wasn’t satisfied with the play she saw the following Saturday, either. All right. The long-lost lover came home just in time… — Betty Smith Landlord 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 Bad thing Copy Share Image
“After Election, the politicians forgot their promises and enjoyed an earned rest until New Year, when they started work on the next… — Betty Smith Democracy 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,… — Betty Smith Dream Copy Share Image
A person who pulls himself up from a low environment via the bootstrap route has two choices. Having risen above his environment,… — Betty Smith Behinds Copy Share Image
“MOST CHILDREN BROUGHT UP IN BROOKLYN BEFORE THE FIRST World War remember Thanksgiving Day there with a peculiar tenderness. It was the… — Betty Smith Children Copy Share Image
It was so simple that a flash of astonishment that felt like pain shot through her head. Education! That was it! It… — Betty Smith Astonishment Copy Share Image
“I need someone,” thought Francie desperately. “I need someone. I need to hold somebody close. And I need more than this holding.… — Betty Smith Need Copy Share Image
A lie was something you told because you were mean or a coward. A story was something you made up out of… — Betty Smith Coward Copy Share Image
“Part of her life was made from the tree growing rankly in the yard. She was the bitter quarrels she had with… — Betty Smith Life Copy Share Image
“The Nolan's just could't get enough of life. They lived their own lives up to the hilt but that wasn't enough. They… — Betty Smith Life Copy Share Image
“What had granma Mary Rommely said? "To look at everything always as though you were seeing it either for the first or… — Betty Smith Last time Copy Share Image
“It’s a fact. They’re gonna stop making liquor and in a few years the country will be dry. A man that works… — Betty Smith Liquor Copy Share Image
But the penciled sheets did not seem like nor smell like the library book so she had given it up, consoling herself… — Betty Smith Book Copy Share Image
I never listen to what people tell me and I can't read. The only way I know what is right and wrong… — Betty Smith Feel good Copy Share Image
Everything, decided Francie after that first lecture, was vibrant with life and there was no death in chemistry. She was puzzled as… — Betty Smith Chemistry Copy Share Image
In the future, when something comes up, you tell exactly how it happened but write down for yourself the way you think… — Betty Smith Advice Copy Share Image
“What is the difference between happiness and contentment?" “Well, happy is like when somebody gives you a big hunk of something wonderful… — Betty Smith Happiness Copy Share Image
