Cemetery Quote by Katherine Paterson
“On Decoration Day, while everyone else in town was at the cemetery decorating the graves of our Glorious War Dead, Willie Beaner and me, Robert Burns Hewitt, took Mabel Cramm's bloomers and run them up the flagpole in front of the town hall. That was the beginning of all my troubles.”
About This Quote
Source Short story: “The Thanksgiving Visitor” by Katherine Paterson, 1979
A youthful act of rebellion against solemn tradition sparks lasting consequences.
In simple terms: Rebellious prank leads to trouble.
Key Takeaway
Consider actions before defying norms.
Themes
rebellion
tradition
consequences
Mood
reflective
nostalgic
Type
narrative
anecdotal
When to use this quote
- schoolyard pranks
- public ceremonies
- family gatherings
Key Concepts
social conformity
personal responsibility
Questions to Reflect On
- What might you have done differently?
- How does tradition shape behavior?
A Different Perspective
May overlook deeper impact on community sentiment.
![“He [an earnest young reporter] seemed to share the view of many intelligent, well-educated, well-meaning people that, while adult literature may aim to be art, the object of children's books is to whip the little rascals into shape.” quote by Katherine Paterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/2cf/katherine-paterson-2365_adults_he-an-earnest-young-reporter-seemed-to-s_6101.jpg)
![“I had no study in those days, not even a desk or file or bookcase to call mine alone…It might have happened sooner [the writing of work worthy of publication] had I had a room of my own and fewer children, but somehow I doubt it. For as I look back on what I have written, I can see that the very…” quote by Katherine Paterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/dc8/katherine-paterson-2365_education_i-had-no-study-in-those-days-not-even-a_294218.jpg)
