---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Oh Toby,” says the Craker boy, “what…"
description: "\"“Oh Toby,” says the Craker boy, “what sickness do”\" — Margaret Atwood"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b02/margaret-atwood-40_toby_oh-toby-says-the-craker-boy-what-sicknes_2664489.jpg"
---

#  Oh Toby,” says the Craker boy, “what sickness do

![“Oh Toby,” says the Craker boy, “what sickness do” quote by Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b02/margaret-atwood-40_toby_oh-toby-says-the-craker-boy-what-sicknes_2664489.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b02/margaret-atwood-40_toby_oh-toby-says-the-craker-boy-what-sicknes_2664489.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b02/margaret-atwood-40_toby_oh-toby-says-the-craker-boy-what-sicknes_2664489.jpg)

> ““Oh Toby,” says the Craker boy, “what sickness do””

[Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A child’s concern about illness reflects deeper anxieties about survival.

**In simple terms:** A child worries about sickness.

Key Takeaway

Listen to concerns, address underlying fears.

Themes

family health anxiety

Mood

empathetic concerned

Type

literary emotional

When to use this quote

- parenting
- healthcare
- mental health
- community support

Key Concepts

literature empathy

Questions to Reflect On

- What fears are hidden behind simple questions?
- How can we respond with compassion?

A Different Perspective

May overlook broader systemic issues.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

## Related quotes

> [“You wouldn't think it would be Toby--she was so tough and hard--but if you're drowning, a soft squashy thing is no good to hold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/you-wouldn-t-think-it-would-be-toby-she-was-so-tough-and-hard-but-if/)

[Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/)

> [“It's kind of shocking to hear Toby called a babe; sort of like calling God a studmuffin.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/it-s-kind-of-shocking-to-hear-toby-called-a-babe-sort-of-like-calling/)

[Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/)

> [“Why is war so much like a practical joke? she thinks. Hiding behind bushes, leaping out, with not much difference between Boo! and Bang!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/why-is-war-so-much-like-a-practical-joke-she-thinks-hiding-behind/)

[Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/)

> [“After getting dressed at warp speed, I actually managed to drive all the way to high school before I realized I'd forgotten my morning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lynn-barnes/after-getting-dressed-at-warp-speed-i-actually-managed-to-drive-all/)

[Jennifer Lynn Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lynn-barnes/)

> [ \[Toby Jones\] is completely different. It's a completely different character. He's the darkest villain we've had. There was always something charming and engaging about… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-gatiss/toby-jones-is-completely-different-it-s-a-completely-different/)

[Mark Gatiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-gatiss/)

> [“He sounded so tired and so earnest. I worried my lips between my teeth before asking, "Does this have anything to do with what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seanan-mcguire/he-sounded-so-tired-and-so-earnest-i-worried-my-lips-between-my-teeth/)

[Seanan McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seanan-mcguire/)

> [“TOBY: The world can move or not by changing some words.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-sorkin/toby-the-world-can-move-or-not-by-changing-some-words/)

[Aaron Sorkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-sorkin/)

> [“For a moment, there was silnece, and then at Brooke's nod, the rest of the Squad, minus me, chimed in. "Yes, sir." I said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lynn-barnes/for-a-moment-there-was-silnece-and-then-at-brooke-s-nod-the-rest-of/)

[Jennifer Lynn Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lynn-barnes/)

> [I remember my first commercial. This is really great 'Degrassi' trivia: The character Toby on 'Degrassi,' played by Jake Goldsbie, he and I were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-arnold/i-remember-my-first-commercial-this-is-really-great-degrassi-trivia/)

[Charlotte Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-arnold/)

> [“I'm not a gentleman,' Toby said. 'I don't think I've ever even seen a gentleman.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-brandon/i-m-not-a-gentleman-toby-said-i-don-t-think-i-ve-ever-even-seen-a/)

[John Brandon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-brandon/)

> [“Tess, will you marry me?" Toby laughed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-duggan/tess-will-you-marry-me-toby-laughed/)

[C.J. Duggan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-duggan/)

> [“Because maybe I don't want to leave the planet invisible. Maybe I need at least one person to remember something about me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-rifka-brunt/because-maybe-i-don-t-want-to-leave-the-planet-invisible-maybe-i-need/)

[Carol Rifka Brunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-rifka-brunt/)

> [“Fuck me,' I said to Toby. 'We're living in Isengard.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-aaronovitch/fuck-me-i-said-to-toby-we-re-living-in-isengard/)

[Ben Aaronovitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-aaronovitch/)

> [“And something else came back, from that later first morning at Kensington Park Gardens: a sense that the house was not only an enhancement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-hollinghurst/and-something-else-came-back-from-that-later-first-morning-at/)

[Alan Hollinghurst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-hollinghurst/)

> [Maria. Nay, but say true, doesit work upon him? Sir Toby Belch. Like aqua vitae with a midwife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/maria-nay-but-say-true-doesit-work-upon-him-sir-toby-belch-like-aqua/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

## More by Margaret Atwood

> [“I'm fine," said Pilar, "for the moment. And the moment is the only time we can be fine in.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/i-m-fine-said-pilar-for-the-moment-and-the-moment-is-the-only-time-we/)

[Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/)

> [And yet it disturbs me to learn I have hurt someone unintentionally. I want all my hurts to be intentional.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/and-yet-it-disturbs-me-to-learn-i-have-hurt-someone-unintentionally-i/)

[Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/)

> [“Mary: Some call this "Eve's curse," but I think that is stupid because the real curse of Eve was having to put up with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/mary-some-call-this-eve-s-curse-but-i-think-that-is-stupid-because/)

[Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/)

> [“The birds were singing around me, but I reflected that the very birds were strangers to me, for I did not even know their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/the-birds-were-singing-around-me-but-i-reflected-that-the-very-birds/)

[Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/)

> [“Strange how we decorate pain. These ribbons, for instance, and the small hard teardrops of blood. Who are they for? Do we think the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/strange-how-we-decorate-pain-these-ribbons-for-instance-and-the-small/)

[margaret atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/)

> [I wanted to forget the past, but it refused to forget me; it waited for sleep, then cornered me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/i-wanted-to-forget-the-past-but-it-refused-to-forget-me-it-waited-for/)

[Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/)

> [“Back at home they drew the curtains and read, with disapproval, with relish, with avidity and glee - even the ones who'd never thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/back-at-home-they-drew-the-curtains-and-read-with-disapproval-with/)

[Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/)

> [“It's my fault. I am forgetting too much.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/it-s-my-fault-i-am-forgetting-too-much/)

[Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/)

> [All fiction is about people, unless it's about rabbits pretending to be people. It's all essentially characters in action, which means characters moving through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/all-fiction-is-about-people-unless-it-s-about-rabbits-pretending-to/)

[Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/)

> [“Simon walks back to the house alone. The night is clear and warm, with a moon, almost full, enclosed in a nimbus of mist;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/simon-walks-back-to-the-house-alone-the-night-is-clear-and-warm-with/)

[Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/)

> [“There is indeed something delightful about being able to combine obedience and disobedience in the same act.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/there-is-indeed-something-delightful-about-being-able-to-combine/)

[Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/)

> [“Every time the women appear, Snowman is astonished all over again. They're every known colour from the deepest black to whitest white, they're various…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/every-time-the-women-appear-snowman-is-astonished-all-over-again-they/)

[Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/)

> [Once you publish a book, it is out of your control. You cannot dictate how people read it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/once-you-publish-a-book-it-is-out-of-your-control-you-cannot-dictate/)

[Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/)

> [“The more difficult it was to love the particular man beside us, the more we believed in Love, abstract and total. We were waiting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/the-more-difficult-it-was-to-love-the-particular-man-beside-us-the/)

[Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/)

> [“She knows she's deceiving herself about that, but she prefers to deceive herself. She desperately needs to believe such pure joy is still possible.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/she-knows-she-s-deceiving-herself-about-that-but-she-prefers-to/)

[Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/)

[Explore all 2,072 Margaret Atwood quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/)

## More Toby quotes

> [Maria. Nay, but say true, doesit work upon him? Sir Toby Belch. Like aqua vitae with a midwife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/maria-nay-but-say-true-doesit-work-upon-him-sir-toby-belch-like-aqua/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [“And something else came back, from that later first morning at Kensington Park Gardens: a sense that the house was not only an enhancement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-hollinghurst/and-something-else-came-back-from-that-later-first-morning-at/)

[Alan Hollinghurst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-hollinghurst/)

> [“Fuck me,' I said to Toby. 'We're living in Isengard.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-aaronovitch/fuck-me-i-said-to-toby-we-re-living-in-isengard/)

[Ben Aaronovitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-aaronovitch/)

> [“Because maybe I don't want to leave the planet invisible. Maybe I need at least one person to remember something about me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-rifka-brunt/because-maybe-i-don-t-want-to-leave-the-planet-invisible-maybe-i-need/)

[Carol Rifka Brunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-rifka-brunt/)

> [“Tess, will you marry me?" Toby laughed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-duggan/tess-will-you-marry-me-toby-laughed/)

[C.J. Duggan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-duggan/)

> [“I'm not a gentleman,' Toby said. 'I don't think I've ever even seen a gentleman.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-brandon/i-m-not-a-gentleman-toby-said-i-don-t-think-i-ve-ever-even-seen-a/)

[John Brandon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-brandon/)

> [I remember my first commercial. This is really great 'Degrassi' trivia: The character Toby on 'Degrassi,' played by Jake Goldsbie, he and I were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-arnold/i-remember-my-first-commercial-this-is-really-great-degrassi-trivia/)

[Charlotte Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-arnold/)

> [“For a moment, there was silnece, and then at Brooke's nod, the rest of the Squad, minus me, chimed in. "Yes, sir." I said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lynn-barnes/for-a-moment-there-was-silnece-and-then-at-brooke-s-nod-the-rest-of/)

[Jennifer Lynn Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lynn-barnes/)

> [“TOBY: The world can move or not by changing some words.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-sorkin/toby-the-world-can-move-or-not-by-changing-some-words/)

[Aaron Sorkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-sorkin/)

> [“He sounded so tired and so earnest. I worried my lips between my teeth before asking, "Does this have anything to do with what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seanan-mcguire/he-sounded-so-tired-and-so-earnest-i-worried-my-lips-between-my-teeth/)

[Seanan McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seanan-mcguire/)

> [ \[Toby Jones\] is completely different. It's a completely different character. He's the darkest villain we've had. There was always something charming and engaging about… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-gatiss/toby-jones-is-completely-different-it-s-a-completely-different/)

[Mark Gatiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-gatiss/)

> [“After getting dressed at warp speed, I actually managed to drive all the way to high school before I realized I'd forgotten my morning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lynn-barnes/after-getting-dressed-at-warp-speed-i-actually-managed-to-drive-all/)

[Jennifer Lynn Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lynn-barnes/)

> [ I was working with Toby Gad, who spent a lot of time in India. There's a sitar \[in "Body Shop"\] and the song has… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madonna-ciccone/i-was-working-with-toby-gad-who-spent-a-lot-of-time-in-india-there-s/)

[Madonna Ciccone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madonna-ciccone/)

> [Josh: So, Toby, it’s election night. What do you say about a country that goes out of its way to protect even those citizens…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-sorkin/josh-so-toby-it-s-election-night-what-do-you-say-about-a-country-that/)

[Aaron Sorkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-sorkin/)

> [ “\[Toby\] reflected that being cruel sometimes makes you rich and powerful, but it always makes you ugly.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timoth-e-de-fombelle/toby-reflected-that-being-cruel-sometimes-makes-you-rich-and-powerful/)

[Timothée de Fombelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timoth-e-de-fombelle/)

Browse all 89 Toby quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Oh Toby,” says the Craker boy, “what sickness do”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Margaret Atwood"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/oh-toby-says-the-craker-boy-what-sickness-do/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Toby"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/oh-toby-says-the-craker-boy-what-sickness-do/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b02/margaret-atwood-40_toby_oh-toby-says-the-craker-boy-what-sicknes_2664489.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b02/margaret-atwood-40_toby_oh-toby-says-the-craker-boy-what-sicknes_2664489.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b02/margaret-atwood-40_toby_oh-toby-says-the-craker-boy-what-sicknes_2664489.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Oh Toby,” says the Craker boy, “what sickness do” — Margaret Atwood",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Margaret Atwood",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Oh Toby,” says the Craker boy,...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/oh-toby-says-the-craker-boy-what-sickness-do/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/oh-toby-says-the-craker-boy-what-sickness-do/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
