God bless Quote by Betty Smith
““No, I ain't big enough. I ain't big enough to do a thing like that. I gotta think of myself and my own kids.' He finally came to his conclusion.'Oh, what the h*ll! Them two kids is gotta live in this world. They got to get used to it. They got to learn to give and to take punishment. And by Jesus, it ain't give but take, take, take all the time in this God-damned world.'...So now, when Francie heard themselves called lousy bastards, she smiled tremulously a the kind man. She knew that he was really saying, 'Good-bye- God bless you.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith, 1943
A parent wrestles with the harsh realities of raising children in a tough world, balancing self‑preservation with responsibility to the next generation.
In simple terms: Parents must protect kids while teaching resilience.
Key Takeaway
Teach children resilience and compassion.
Themes
parenting
survival
responsibility
Mood
reflective
somber
Type
literary
social commentary
When to use this quote
- raising children
- poverty
- urban life
- family dynamics
Key Concepts
self‑preservation
compassion
social realism
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance self‑care with caring for others?
- What lessons can children learn from adversity?
A Different Perspective
The quote may romanticize hardship without offering solutions.
