Said Tommy Quote by Ring Lardner
““They’s no use kiddin’ ourself any more,’ said Tommy Haley. ‘He might get down to thirty-seven in a pinch, but if he done below that a mouse could stop him. He’s a welter; that’s what he is and he knows it as well as I do. He’s growed like a weed in the last six mont’s. I told him, I says, “If you don’t quit growin’ they won’t be nobody for you to box, only Willard and them.” He says, “Well, I wouldn’t run away from Willard if I weighed twenty pounds more.”’ ‘He must hate himself,’ said Tommy’s brother. ‘I never seen a good one that didn’t.””
About This Quote
Source Short story: “The Old Man and the Boy”, 1915
A narrator describes a man’s stubbornness and self‑destruction, using colloquial humor to highlight fatalistic attitudes toward effort and self‑worth.
In simple terms: Stubbornness leads to self‑destruction; effort matters.
Key Takeaway
Recognize self‑limiting beliefs.
Themes
self‑worth
determination
humor
fatalism
masculinity
Mood
cynical
ironic
empathetic
Type
narrative
social commentary
humorous
When to use this quote
- Avoiding work
- accepting defeat
- overcoming self‑hate
- seeking purpose
Key Concepts
Self‑sabotage
identity
social pressure
working class life
Questions to Reflect On
- What drives self‑destructive behavior?
- How can one break cycles of defeat?
A Different Perspective
The humor may trivialize serious struggles.
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