Gloucester Quote by John Ciardi
““There was a young lady from Gloucester Who complained that her parents both bossed her, So she ran off to Maine. Did her parents complain? Not at all -- they were glad to have lost her.””
About This Quote
Source Poem: “The Gloucester Girl” by John Ciardi, 1955
A young woman escapes parental control, but her parents are relieved when she leaves, highlighting mismatched expectations.
In simple terms: Leaving can reveal hidden relief.
Key Takeaway
Respect boundaries and communicate expectations.
Themes
family
independence
expectations
Mood
reflective
bittersweet
Type
poetic
humorous
When to use this quote
- family gatherings
- moving out
- career changes
- relationship decisions
Key Concepts
parental authority
personal freedom
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you truly understand your own desires?
- How might your family view your independence?
A Different Perspective
Parents may feel relief but also loss; not all escapes are positive.
![“The Babson Institute, which is now an actual university, was started by this guy [my father] who also had a problem with believing in gravity. And so he started the Babson Institute in New Boston, New Hampshire, which then moved to Gloucester. Each year they have a competition of one thousand…” quote by Paul Laffoley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/cc2/paul-laffoley-7077_believe_the-babson-institute-which-is-now-an-act_213586.jpg)
