Arms Quote by Jonathan Safran Foer
“The disgraced Usurer Yankel D took the baby girl home that evening... He made a bed of crumpled newspaper in a deep baking pan and gently tucked it in the oven, so that she wouldn't be disturbed by the noise of the small falls outside... When he pulled her out to feed her or just hold her, her body was tattooed with the newsprint... Sometimes he would rock her to sleep in his arms, and read her left to right, and know everything he needed to know about the world. If it wasn't written on her, it wasn't important to him.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: Everything Is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer, 2002
A man caring for a child uses newspaper as a protective, educational layer, suggesting knowledge shields from harsh reality.
In simple terms: He protects the child with newsprint, believing what’s written matters most.
Key Takeaway
Value knowledge and compassion over material comforts.
Themes
care
knowledge
protection
compassion
Mood
tender
reflective
Type
narrative
literary
When to use this quote
- parenting
- education
- comforting a child
- survival
- ethical dilemmas
Key Concepts
symbolism
humanity
literature
Questions to Reflect On
- How does information shape our care for others?
- What is the balance between knowledge and empathy?
A Different Perspective
May reliance on written knowledge ignore emotional needs.
