“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… — Betty Smith Better life Copy Share Image
“Before school, there had to be vaccination. That was the law. How it was dreaded! When the health authorities tried to explain… — Betty Smith Children Copy Share Image
It's a beautiful religion and I wish I understood it more. No, I don't want to understand it all. It's beautiful because… — Betty Smith Beautiful Copy Share Image
“She learned of the class system of a great Democracy. She was puzzled and hurt by teacher’s attitude. Obviously the teacher hated… — Betty Smith Stick together Copy Share Image
“She got herself widowed, divorced, married, and pregnant – all in ten days’ time.” — Betty Smith Efficiency Copy Share Image
“I guess being needed is almost as good as being loved. Maybe better.” — Betty Smith Needed Copy Share Image
“Maybe being needed is almost as good as being loved. Maybe better.” — Betty Smith Maybe Copy Share Image
There are very few bad people. There are just a lot of people that are unlucky. — Betty Smith Bad people Copy Share Image
“Do you hear that, Francie? You're in college! 'oh gosh, I feel sick.” — Betty Smith College Copy Share Image
“And when I sleep, let me dream all the time so that not one little piece of living is ever lost.” — Betty Smith Dreams Copy Share Image
“The waiting gave them a purpose in life for a little while and, almost, they felt necessary again.” — Betty Smith Life Copy Share Image
“Katie! Don't nag! All of us are what we have to be and everyone lives the life it's in him to live.” — Betty Smith Life Copy Share Image
'Dear God,' she prayed, 'let me be something every minute of every hour of my life.' — Betty Smith Beautiful Copy Share Image
“We're too much alike to understand each other because we don't even understand ourselves.” — Betty Smith Alike Copy Share Image
Oh time...time, pass so that I forget! Oh time, Great Healer, pass over me and let me forget. — Betty Smith Forget Copy Share Image
From that moment on, the world was hers for the reading. She would never be lonely again. — Betty Smith Lonely Copy Share Image
“When you get home, burn these in the stove. Apply the match to them yourself. And as the flames rise, keep saying:… — Betty Smith Saying Burning Copy Share Image
It meant that she belonged some place. She was a Brooklyn girl with a Brooklyn name and a Brooklyn accent. She didn't… — Betty Smith Accents Copy Share Image
From that time on, the world was hers for the reading. She would never be lonely again, never miss the lack of… — Betty Smith Book Copy Share Image
Francie was ten years old when she first found an outlet in writing. What she wrote was of little consequence. What was… — Betty Smith Consequence 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
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
Intolerance is a thing that causes war, pogroms, crucifixions, lynchings, and makes people cruel to little children and each other. It is… — Betty Smith Causes Copy Share Image
“Wouldn't it be more of a free country," persisted Francie "if we could ride in them free?" "No." "Why?" "Because that would… — Betty Smith Democracy Copy Share Image
She went out and took a last long look at the shabby little library. She knew she would never see it again.… — Betty Smith Changed 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 Beautiful Copy Share Image
Serene was a word you could put to Brooklyn New York. Especially in the summer of 1912. Somber as a word was… — Betty Smith Afternoon Copy Share Image
“There are two truths," said Katie finally. "As a mother, I say it would have been a terrible thing for a girl… — Betty Smith Parenting Copy Share Image
Did you ever see so many pee-wee hats, Carl?" "They're beanies." "They call them pee-wees in Brooklyn." "But I'm not in Brooklyn."… — Betty Smith Annie Copy Share Image
“Filth, filth, filth, from morning to night. I know they're poor but they could wash. Water is free and soap is cheap.… — Betty Smith Better world Copy Share Image
“Francie thought that all the books in the world were in that library and she had a plan about reading all the… — Betty Smith Book 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 Children 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 Children Copy Share Image
