--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What, I wonder, does the reader know of…" description: "\"“What, I wonder, does the reader know of large families? More important, how much can he stand hearing on the subject, from me? I must say at least thi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49e/j-d-salinger-560_age-difference_what-i-wonder-does-the-reader-know-of-la_2549459.jpg" --- # What, I wonder, does the reader know of large families?… ![“What, I wonder, does the reader know of large families? More important, how much can he stand hearing on the subject, from me? I must say at least this much: If you're an older brother in a large family (particularly where, as with Seymour and Franny, there's an age difference of roughly eighteen…” quote by J.D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49e/j-d-salinger-560_age-difference_what-i-wonder-does-the-reader-know-of-la_2549459.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49e/j-d-salinger-560_age-difference_what-i-wonder-does-the-reader-know-of-la_2549459.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49e/j-d-salinger-560_age-difference_what-i-wonder-does-the-reader-know-of-la_2549459.jpg) > ““What, I wonder, does the reader know of large families? More important, how much can he stand hearing on the subject, from me? I must say at least this much: If you're an older brother in a large family (particularly where, as with Seymour and Franny, there's an age difference of roughly eighteen years), and you either cast yourself or just not very advertently become cast in the role of local tutor or mentor, it's almost impossible not to turn into a monitor, too. But even monitors come in individual shapes, sizes, and colors. For example, when Seymour told one of the twins or Zooey or Franny, or even Mme Boo Boo (who was only two years younger than myself, and often entirely the Lady), to take off his or her rubbers on coming into the apartment, each and all of them knew he mostly meant that the floor would get tracked up if they didn't and that Bessie would have to get out the mop. When I told them to take off their rubbers, they knew I mostly meant that people who didn't were slobs. It was bound to make no small difference in the way they kidded or ragged us separately. Но, питам се, какво знае читателят за многочислените семейства? И което е по-важното, ще изтърпи ли не друг, а аз да му обясня този въпрос? Мога да кажа поне следното: ако си по-голям брат в многочислено семейство (в което разликата между Сиймор и Франи е горе-долу осемнайсет години) и сам си поел или някой е имал непредпазливостта да ти възложи ролята на наставник и опекун, почти невъзможно е да не се превърнеш и в надзирател. Но дори надзирателите се произвеждат в различни форми, размери и цветове. Така например, когато Сиймор кажеше на близнаците, на Зуи или Франи или дори на мадам Бу Бу (която е само две години по-малка от мен) да си събуват галошите, преди да влязат в апартамента, всеки от тях възприемаше думите му така: не се ли събуете, ще оставите стъпки по пода и после Беси ще трябва да се трепе с парцала. А когато аз им кажех да си събуят галошите, те го приемаха като обида: който не се събува е палачор. Оттук произтичаше и разликата в начина, по който те се шегуваха с него и с мен.”” [J.D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Older siblings in big families often become informal mentors, shaping responsibilities and dynamics within the household. **In simple terms:** Big siblings act as mentors in large families. Key Takeaway Recognize and balance mentorship roles. Themes family responsibility growth communication Mood reflective empathetic Type observational philosophical When to use this quote - parenting - sibling relationships - household management Key Concepts psychology developmental dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How does your role as a mentor affect your identity? - Can you set boundaries without guilt? A Different Perspective Mentorship can feel burdensome and limit personal freedom. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Age difference](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age-difference/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [Large Families](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/large-families/) [Large family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/large-family/) [Older brother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/older-brother/) ## Related quotes > [“For example, when Seymour told one of the twins or Zooey or Franny or even Mme. 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I saw a small boy who belongs to one of those large families who only practice at birth control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-ellis/i-saw-a-small-boy-who-belongs-to-one-of-those-large-families-who-only/) [Anne Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-ellis/) > [Haiti is extremely stratified socially with a number of large families controlling most of the economy, and import-export.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michele-montas/haiti-is-extremely-stratified-socially-with-a-number-of-large/) [Michele Montas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michele-montas/) > [There are some people who get money just because they've got large families. 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Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger/) > [“He stuck around till around dinnertime, talking about all the guys at Pencey that he hated their guts, and squeezing this big pimple on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger/he-stuck-around-till-around-dinnertime-talking-about-all-the-guys-at/) [J.D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger/) > [“For example, when Seymour told one of the twins or Zooey or Franny or even Mme. Boo Boo (who was only two years younger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger/for-example-when-seymour-told-one-of-the-twins-or-zooey-or-franny-or/) [J.D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger/) > [“One thing? One thing I like? Okay.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger/one-thing-one-thing-i-like-okay/) [J.D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger/) > [“The cigars are ballast, sweetheart. Sheer ballast. If he didn’t have a cigar to hold on to, his feet would leave the ground. We’d…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger/the-cigars-are-ballast-sweetheart-sheer-ballast-if-he-didn-t-have-a/) [J.D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger/) > [“They're just people that write poems that get published and anthologized all over the place but they're not poets.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger/they-re-just-people-that-write-poems-that-get-published-and/) [J.D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger/) > [“In certain Zen monasteries, it's a cardinal rule, if not the only serious enforced discipline, that when one monk calls out 'Hi!' to another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger/in-certain-zen-monasteries-it-s-a-cardinal-rule-if-not-the-only/) [j.d. salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger/) > [“And I hate to tell you... but I think that once you have a fair idea where you want to go, your first move…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger/and-i-hate-to-tell-you-but-i-think-that-once-you-have-a-fair-idea/) [J.D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger/) > [“Hi,' he said. He always said it like he was terrifically bored or terrifically tired. He didn't want you to think he was visiting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger/hi-he-said-he-always-said-it-like-he-was-terrifically-bored-or/) [J.D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger/) > [ “\[Y\]ou’re someone who took up birds in the first place because they fired your imagination; they fascinated you because ‘they seemed of all created… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger/y-ou-re-someone-who-took-up-birds-in-the-first-place-because-they/) [J.D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger/) [Explore all 416 J.D. Salinger quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger/) ## More Age difference quotes > [Bill Pullman is older than Aaron Eckhart - although I was older too - and the age difference changes the play. My perspective on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-stiles/bill-pullman-is-older-than-aaron-eckhart-although-i-was-older-too-and/) [Julia Stiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-stiles/) > [“Your brother?" St. Clair points above my bed to the only picture I've hung up. 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Worse even than the frank light of day.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/time-is-the-enemy-of-lovers-worse-even-than-the-frank-light-of-day/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) > [“The cup-sized breasts of that twenty-four year old impatient beauty seemed a dozen years younger than she, with those pale squinty nipples and firm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-nabokov/the-cup-sized-breasts-of-that-twenty-four-year-old-impatient-beauty/) [Vladimir Nabokov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-nabokov/) > [Let the world have their opinions. But don't let them have our world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-lianne/let-the-world-have-their-opinions-but-don-t-let-them-have-our-world/) [Sophie Lianne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-lianne/) > [The age difference has never been a thing. I think Patrick's work certainly keeps him young. What is young, though?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunny-ozell/the-age-difference-has-never-been-a-thing-i-think-patrick-s-work/) [Sunny Ozell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunny-ozell/) > [Even my older brothers' early success 10 years ago didn't change me since there was such an age difference.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gibb/even-my-older-brothers-early-success-10-years-ago-didn-t-change-me/) [Andy Gibb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gibb/) [Browse all 48 Age difference quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age-difference/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“What, I wonder, does the reader know of large families? More important, how much can he stand hearing on the subject, from me? I must say at least this much: If you're an older brother in a large family (particularly where, as with Seymour and Franny, there's an age difference of roughly eighteen years), and you either cast yourself or just not very advertently become cast in the role of local tutor or mentor, it's almost impossible not to turn into a monitor, too. But even monitors come in individual shapes, sizes, and colors. For example, when Seymour told one of the twins or Zooey or Franny, or even Mme Boo Boo (who was only two years younger than myself, and often entirely the Lady), to take off his or her rubbers on coming into the apartment, each and all of them knew he mostly meant that the floor would get tracked up if they didn't and that Bessie would have to get out the mop. When I told them to take off their rubbers, they knew I mostly meant that people who didn't were slobs. It was bound to make no small difference in the way they kidded or ragged us separately. Но, питам се, какво знае читателят за многочислените семейства? И което е по-важното, ще изтърпи ли не друг, а аз да му обясня този въпрос? Мога да кажа поне следното: ако си по-голям брат в многочислено семейство (в което разликата между Сиймор и Франи е горе-долу осемнайсет години) и сам си поел или някой е имал непредпазливостта да ти възложи ролята на наставник и опекун, почти невъзможно е да не се превърнеш и в надзирател. Но дори надзирателите се произвеждат в различни форми, размери и цветове. Така например, когато Сиймор кажеше на близнаците, на Зуи или Франи или дори на мадам Бу Бу (която е само две години по-малка от мен) да си събуват галошите, преди да влязат в апартамента, всеки от тях възприемаше думите му така: не се ли събуете, ще оставите стъпки по пода и после Беси ще трябва да се трепе с парцала. А когато аз им кажех да си събуят галошите, те го приемаха като обида: който не се събува е палачор. Оттук произтичаше и разликата в начина, по който те се шегуваха с него и с мен.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "J.D. 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