--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: They did the best they could. Besides I…" description: "\"“They did the best they could. Besides I was hardly a stranger. I had known your grandmother. We were like this.\" She twined her second and third finge..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/324/gregory-maguire-547_elphaba_they-did-the-best-they-could-besides-i-w_2232191.png" --- # They did the best they could. Besides I was hardly a… ![“They did the best they could. Besides I was hardly a stranger. I had known your grandmother. We were like this." She twined her second and third fingers together as if they might strangle each other.” quote by Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/324/gregory-maguire-547_elphaba_they-did-the-best-they-could-besides-i-w_2232191.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/324/gregory-maguire-547_elphaba_they-did-the-best-they-could-besides-i-w_2232191.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/324/gregory-maguire-547_elphaba_they-did-the-best-they-could-besides-i-w_2232191.png) > ““They did the best they could. Besides I was hardly a stranger. I had known your grandmother. We were like this." She twined her second and third fingers together as if they might strangle each other.”” [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Characters reflect on past connections and shared history, hinting at complex relationships. **In simple terms:** People recall shared pasts, shaping present bonds. Key Takeaway Recognize how history influences current ties. Themes memory relationships identity Mood reflective poetic Type literary emotive When to use this quote - family reunions - old friendships - reconciliations - storytelling - therapy Key Concepts nostalgia interpersonal dynamics shared experience Questions to Reflect On - What does the finger‑twining symbolize? - How do past ties affect present actions? A Different Perspective Interpretations may differ; context unclear. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Elphaba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elphaba/) [Fingers Strangle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fingers-strangle-5026077/) [Glinda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/glinda-72816/) [Grandmother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grandmother/) [Grandmother Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grandmother-like-1429555/) [Known Grandmother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/known-grandmother-4883594/) [Like Twined](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-twined-5026078/) ## Related quotes > [“Do good though, will you?" She blinked brightly at the green girl. "If not for your parents or your grandmother, then for me?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/do-good-though-will-you-she-blinked-brightly-at-the-green-girl-if-not/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [“I'm just doing your tea, Mum," he said. "Are you all imbecilic? Is that a requirement of enlisted men? It's Lady GLINDA!" She was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/i-m-just-doing-your-tea-mum-he-said-are-you-all-imbecilic-is-that-a/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [“Well, I learned to cook. At my age," she told him. "What's next? Art therapy? Anyway, I've had quite a time of it this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/well-i-learned-to-cook-at-my-age-she-told-him-what-s-next-art-therapy/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [“Glinda waved dismissively. Then she tucked her hand against her mouth and bit her knuckles. It was hard to tell if her pretty ways…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/glinda-waved-dismissively-then-she-tucked-her-hand-against-her-mouth/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [“You need my help? What for? Bread, cash, a fake identity to help you slip sideways through the cracks? Tell me what you need,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/you-need-my-help-what-for-bread-cash-a-fake-identity-to-help-you-slip/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [“Hormonal ones, I am right here. Me. The old lady otherwise known as your grandmother”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-jones/hormonal-ones-i-am-right-here-me-the-old-lady-otherwise-known-as-your/) [Carrie Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-jones/) > [Behold the male beast roaring in the jungle for his mate," said Elphaba. "See how the female beast giggles behind a shrub while she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/behold-the-male-beast-roaring-in-the-jungle-for-his-mate-said-elphaba/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [“Why should I keep myself so safe?” he asked her, but he was almost asking himself. What is there in my life worth preserving?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/why-should-i-keep-myself-so-safe-he-asked-her-but-he-was-almost/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [Because no retreat from the world can mask what is in your face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/because-no-retreat-from-the-world-can-mask-what-is-in-your-face/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [“In her time Nor Tigelaar had faced insurrectionists and collaborationists and war profiteers. She'd endured abduction and prison and self-mutilation. She'd sold herself in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/in-her-time-nor-tigelaar-had-faced-insurrectionists-and/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [You're fun to look at," decided Galinda. Boq's face fell. "Fun?" he said. I'd give a lot to achieve fun," Elphaba said. "The best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/you-re-fun-to-look-at-decided-galinda-boq-s-face-fell-fun-he-said-i-d/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [Elphaba looked like something between an animal and an Animal, like something more than life but not quite Life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/elphaba-looked-like-something-between-an-animal-and-an-animal-like/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [You could say that Elphaba brought us together,' said Boq softly. 'I'm closer to her and so I'm closer to you.' Galinda seemed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/you-could-say-that-elphaba-brought-us-together-said-boq-softly-i-m/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [I wouldn't mind leaving myself behind if I could, but I don't know the way out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/i-wouldn-t-mind-leaving-myself-behind-if-i-could-but-i-don-t-know-the/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [Does the devil ever struggle to be good again, or if so is he not a devil?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/does-the-devil-ever-struggle-to-be-good-again-or-if-so-is-he-not-a/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) ## More by Gregory Maguire > [“By so giving up, of course, it renews itself- that is the secret”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/by-so-giving-up-of-course-it-renews-itself-that-is-the-secret/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [Forgive us our trespasses," says Margarethe, "and get out of our way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/forgive-us-our-trespasses-says-margarethe-and-get-out-of-our-way/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [“There are two kinds of anger: hot and cold. Boys and girls experience both, but as they grow up the anger separates according to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/there-are-two-kinds-of-anger-hot-and-cold-boys-and-girls-experience/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [“Very few things in the world are certain, but morning is one of them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/very-few-things-in-the-world-are-certain-but-morning-is-one-of-them/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [No one survives in times of war unless they make war their home. How did I get so old and wise, but for welcoming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/no-one-survives-in-times-of-war-unless-they-make-war-their-home-how/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [“I care as much as I can, but I don’t spend energy caring about things I cannot resolve.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/i-care-as-much-as-i-can-but-i-don-t-spend-energy-caring-about-things/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [“How many times in a life, he thought, will I lie down in a darkness whose character I cannot imagine, to see what daybreak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/how-many-times-in-a-life-he-thought-will-i-lie-down-in-a-darkness/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [Old Flossie settle down on the other side of What-the-Dickens and dragged some handiwork out of a sack. She armed herself with two thorns…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/old-flossie-settle-down-on-the-other-side-of-what-the-dickens-and/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [I shall pray for your soul,' promised Nessarose. I shall wait for your shoes,' Elphie answered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/i-shall-pray-for-your-soul-promised-nessarose-i-shall-wait-for-your/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [My first job was scooping ice cream at Friendly's in Albany, New York. I hated the work, most of my colleagues, and the uniform,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/my-first-job-was-scooping-ice-cream-at-friendly-s-in-albany-new-york/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [“At its most elemental, a spell is no more than a recipe for change.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/at-its-most-elemental-a-spell-is-no-more-than-a-recipe-for-change/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [I write because I admire the act of rationalization, of seeking clarity in one's understanding of the complexities of life, and I'm bad at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/i-write-because-i-admire-the-act-of-rationalization-of-seeking/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [“Do good though, will you?" She blinked brightly at the green girl. "If not for your parents or your grandmother, then for me?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/do-good-though-will-you-she-blinked-brightly-at-the-green-girl-if-not/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [“You always had an eye for the fellow with a decent helping of sausage and hard-boiled eggs.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/you-always-had-an-eye-for-the-fellow-with-a-decent-helping-of-sausage/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [“You need my help? What for? Bread, cash, a fake identity to help you slip sideways through the cracks? Tell me what you need,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/you-need-my-help-what-for-bread-cash-a-fake-identity-to-help-you-slip/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) [Explore all 470 Gregory Maguire quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) ## More Elphaba quotes > [I don't stop. It's my nature. People have to tell me to slow down. I plan on playing every role on Broadway. I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lea-michele/i-don-t-stop-it-s-my-nature-people-have-to-tell-me-to-slow-down-i/) [Lea Michele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lea-michele/) > [“Do good though, will you?" She blinked brightly at the green girl. "If not for your parents or your grandmother, then for me?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/do-good-though-will-you-she-blinked-brightly-at-the-green-girl-if-not/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [You are so vicious. (Tee) Hence the nickname. (Syd) You know it’s bad when you make me look like Glinda the Good Witch, right?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/you-are-so-vicious-tee-hence-the-nickname-syd-you-know-it-s-bad-when/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [Behold the male beast roaring in the jungle for his mate," said Elphaba. "See how the female beast giggles behind a shrub while she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/behold-the-male-beast-roaring-in-the-jungle-for-his-mate-said-elphaba/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [I wouldn't mind leaving myself behind if I could, but I don't know the way out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/i-wouldn-t-mind-leaving-myself-behind-if-i-could-but-i-don-t-know-the/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [I would love to do Evita or Elphaba in Wicked. But I am more excited to originate a role on Broadway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yvette-gonzalez-nacer/i-would-love-to-do-evita-or-elphaba-in-wicked-but-i-am-more-excited/) [Yvette Gonzalez-Nacer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yvette-gonzalez-nacer/) > [You could say that Elphaba brought us together,' said Boq softly. 'I'm closer to her and so I'm closer to you.' Galinda seemed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/you-could-say-that-elphaba-brought-us-together-said-boq-softly-i-m/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [“Give me something to go on, here. What kind of black magic are we talking? Elphaba,Wicked Witch of the West-type stuff or Slytherin-type stuff?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chloe-neill/give-me-something-to-go-on-here-what-kind-of-black-magic-are-we/) [Chloe Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chloe-neill/) > [Does the devil ever struggle to be good again, or if so is he not a devil?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/does-the-devil-ever-struggle-to-be-good-again-or-if-so-is-he-not-a/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [Elphaba looked like something between an animal and an Animal, like something more than life but not quite Life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/elphaba-looked-like-something-between-an-animal-and-an-animal-like/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [But as far as dream roles - I know this is so expected of me, but I would to play Elphaba in 'Wicked' on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariana-grande/but-as-far-as-dream-roles-i-know-this-is-so-expected-of-me-but-i/) [Ariana Grande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariana-grande/) > [You're fun to look at," decided Galinda. Boq's face fell. "Fun?" he said. I'd give a lot to achieve fun," Elphaba said. "The best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/you-re-fun-to-look-at-decided-galinda-boq-s-face-fell-fun-he-said-i-d/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [You know, once somebody knows you can sing Elphaba, it's like being able to sing Evita - people shut up about it already.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-gasteyer/you-know-once-somebody-knows-you-can-sing-elphaba-it-s-like-being/) [Ana Gasteyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-gasteyer/) > [“In her time Nor Tigelaar had faced insurrectionists and collaborationists and war profiteers. She'd endured abduction and prison and self-mutilation. She'd sold herself in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/in-her-time-nor-tigelaar-had-faced-insurrectionists-and/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [Because no retreat from the world can mask what is in your face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/because-no-retreat-from-the-world-can-mask-what-is-in-your-face/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) [Browse all 20 Elphaba quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elphaba/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“They did the best they could. Besides I was hardly a stranger. I had known your grandmother. 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