Books Quote by Morgan Matson
““All I could determine was that it must have been a nice thing to see if it was a house you were thinking about moving into. But not so nice if it was the house you were moving out from. I could practically hear Mr Collins, who had taught my fifth-grade English class and was still the most intimidating teacher I'd ever had, yelling at me. "Amy Curry," I could still hear him intoning, "never end a sentence with a preposition!" Irked that after six hears he was still mentally correcting me, I told the Mr. Collins in my head to off fuck.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Girl Who Could Not Dream, Morgan Matson, 2022
The narrator reflects on the emotional contrast between moving into a new house versus leaving an old one, and the lingering impact of a strict teacher’s grammar rules on her self‑criticism.
In simple terms: Moving in feels hopeful; moving out feels painful, and old lessons still haunt us.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and release outdated self‑criticism.
Themes
growth
transition
self‑esteem
grammar
memory
Mood
reflective
bittersweet
nostalgic
Type
personal
literary
reflective
When to use this quote
- moving house
- reflecting on past education
- writing
- personal growth
Key Concepts
identity
self‑talk
psychology
learning
Questions to Reflect On
- How do past authority figures shape your current confidence?
- What can you let go of to feel freer?
A Different Perspective
Old academic rules can stifle creative expression if taken too seriously.
![“... [In 'Pride and Prejudice'] Mr Collins's repulsiveness in his letter [about Lydia's elopement] does not exist only at the level of the sentence: it permeates all aspects of his rhetoric. Austen's point is that the well-formed sentence belongs to a self-enclosed mind, incapable of sympathetic…” quote by Andrew Elfenbein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/6cd/andrew-elfenbein-61722_closed-mind_in-pride-and-prejudice-mr-collins-s-repu_2489107.jpg)
![“Words were insufficient for the elevation of his [Mr Collins'] feelings; and he was obliged to walk about the room, while Elizabeth tried to unite civility and truth in a few short sentences.” quote by Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/40c/jane-austen-39_civility_words-were-insufficient-for-the-elevatio_1661754.jpg)
