Quotes from the book you are currently reading

Feel free to share a line from the book you are reading that caught your eye.

Kids are like horses---in that things go alot easier if you get their respect from the outset, rather than trying to demand it after they start seeing what they can get away with.
From the book: Half broke horses by J.Walls page 92

"It may upset things a trifle, but half a child's pleasure consists in having their fun when they want it."
-Eight Cousins-
By: Louisa May Alcott

2: Very good wisdom, CS.

3: Interestingly true, fishtail.

I will try and post here as often as possible, but I am not sure how often. I will get the proverbial ball rolling from my direction. Just a little background on the book I am reading. It is called An Opened Grave, by L. Frank James. I am not sure if any of you have heard of this book or not. I picked it up a few weeks ago at a thrift store for a whopping 25-cents (I love thrift stores). What drew me to this particular book originally was that it was about Sherlock Holmes and I am a big Sherlock Holmes fan.

The fact that it was about Sherlock Holmes was what first caught my eye. After purchasing the book and reading the back cover, I was more intrigued and glad I purchased it. Sherlock Holmes (if you guys are familiar with him) would probably be considered "humanistic" in his philosophy of life (as seemed to be the case with its author, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle). In this book, Sherlock Holmes is faced with the very real presence of his own death. However, he is saved (by Divine power), or so it is believed to be the case of a particular woman that Holmes comes in contact with. He is touched in such a great and real way by his experience that he sets out to either prove Jesus Christ (and hence, Christianity) is a hoax or it will be proven to him that Jesus Christ is real (and the Christian faith is the answer for the salvation of man's soul). I am through about 2/3 of the book. While Watson is skeptical about the whole "crazy idea" of the great detective, Holmes' growing faith is evident. Mr. James is a great writer and this idea (that Sherlock Holmes is touched by the Gospel of Jesus Christ) is intriguing.

There have been a couple of great quotes within the book, but I will only quote one. While I understand that this is a fictional novel, the truth still stands true. Here, Sherlock Holmes expounds on the existence of a Grand Designer (Creator) to his colleague Dr. Watson (pg. 93):

"If I were to happen upon any orderly arrangement, let us take the English alphabet for example, I would discover the system of letters and their combinations and I would be curious about them. Not unlike an anthropologist being naturally curious about cave paintings and the people that made them. I would investigate the use of letters and words in the development of language and the need for communication. I would find out that man contrived the alphabet for a purpose. I would be remiss in my natural predilection if I did not extrapolate from something such as the alphabet, the existence of an intelligent designer as the cause of it. Everywhere I see a design, I can conclude a designer; I have, then, cause and effect. As I ponder this concept further and venture up the scale of increasing complexity, I would advance until I came to the ultimate designer, the final cause; some would call him God."

"Who in the rainbow can draw the line where the violet tint ends and the orange tint begins? Distinctly we see the difference of the colours, but where exactly does the first blendingly enter into the other? So with sanity and insanity."

from Billy Budd by Herman Melville

7: Very interesting thought, bernsad.

*6...

Your book sounds very interesting. What a peculiar twist in Sherlock's investigations huh?

I thoroughly enjoyed the quote. It is no wonder that some scientists, upon delving deeper and deeper into their field of expertice, have come to the same conclusion.

Thank you for sharing this.

*7

Thank you bernsad, reminds me of another quote.....“Sanity is a cozy lie.” ― Susan Sontag

9: Amen, CS. It just goes to show, God's Word is reliable and trustworthy- and later if not sooner, it will be proven so. I know in my own life, God's Word has always been proven reliable and trustworthy.

This is certainly an interesting twist. By the way I have read several chapters since I read this quote and we now see Dr. Watson beginning to come to the same conclusion as his colleague, Sherlock Holmes.

God's blessings.

#1. CSailin..Thank you for starting this thread..I often number pages on a pad to remember certain phrases.

"Long-continued disability makes some people saintly, some self pitying, some bitter. It has only clarified Sally and made her more herself. Even when she was young and well she could appear so calm and withdrawn from human heat and hurt that she fooled people."

From Crossing To Safety by Wallace Earle Stegner

*11 Here's a little gift for you:

*12 Hazeljune!!! So nice to see you here. Yes, I started this group last week. I just love quotes, from all over, I collect them. I'm glad we have that in common as well.

That is a beautiful quote Hazel. I have known people like Sally. Yes, disability has a way of affecting diferrent individuals in different ways.
I think life affects us all differently as well. Some, when faced with adversity, run away, some face the adversity and come out stronger. Others pretend it's not there at all and live oblivious to it. Others, acquiesce. We humans are a very complex bunch.

Did you enjoy reading the entire book?

I just picked up Old Filth which someone else mentioned on another LT thread.....what mixed up people in that book.....each hiding behind a mask. I'm still not finished with it.

Do come back and share your thoughts, quotes, or anything you'd like.

Feel free to start a thread of your own if you'd like as well.

Have a happy day Hazel!!

"Lord, you know there are many things you have given me for which I am grateful. Today is not one of them." Patricia Sprinkle- When did we Lose Harriet?

*15

Thank you for this quote....haven't we all felt like this at times?

Are you enjoying the book? Sounds like a nice mystery.

13: That is nice, CS. Is this a pillow you own? Did you possibly make it?

15: I believe we have all drawn this conclusion before.

"I believe that most people have some degree of talent for something - forms, colors, words, sounds. Talent lies around in us like kindling waiting for a match, but some people, just as gifted as others, are less lucky. Fate never drops a match on them. The times are wrong or their health is poor, or their energy low, or their their obligations too many. Something."

Crossing to Safety by Wallace Stegner.

#14 CSailin I must admit that I have really slowed down with this book, it started of at a great pace, however I am battling!! BTW Try to follow up Old Filth with The Man In The Wooden Hat it is a must, a companion novel, of the two the second is my favorite, some nice little surprises!! I have followed up this series with Last Friends.

*17 Sadly, no. It's just that I've seen how all LT'ers pass around trays of cookies and pie and cake and cups of tea and coffee when they are discussing their books, and I figured, well, I can most certainly live large and copy/paste a little gift that I found interesting and applicable to the matter at hand.

I do mostly cross-stitching myself. Right now I've been working on a sampler with the Alphabet and a cottage and other little designs that catch my eye.
I'm almost done with it.

"There is more happiness in giving than in receiving" Acts 20:35

*19

Your quote reminded me of something Einstein said



** What I found difficult in reading Old Filth is the lack of relationships.....everyone is so proper, and cold, it seems they speak, but say very little. You learn about the characters through the narrative, not through the characters speaking to each other. And, so many lose ends. So many secrets and regrets and plain old disfunctional relationships. I do hope that The Man In The Wooden Hat is not like that. (sighs)
I should have taken a hint when the book mentions that Betty (the judge's wife) read alot of Georgette Heyer. I've tried to read Heyer's works, but haven't been able to keep up to speed with it. But I will trudge on.......

20: Amen, CS. And again, thanks for sharing it.

21: What a great quote, CS.

*22 *23 You're welcome jnt. Isn't that quote a doozy? It's a great reminder to everyone, not to judge the abilities of others, but that each of us have our own talents, and we should work together, each doing whatever little or much we can do.

I do love quotes jnt, and I love to share them.

24: It shows, CS. I also love quotes. I am intrigued by all the many wonderful pieces of advice, ideas, and thoughts people have (as expressed in quotes). As a matter of fact, at times, I read a book of quotes like "a book." Let's say you need some encouragement and you read a book of quotes on "encouragement," this can be the most encouraging thing that you possibly could do to receive encouragement. I just thought this thought as I was writing that last sentence: When we read quotes we open up the opportunity to receive what we may need at that moment from a wide range of individuals who have vital knowledge on the thing we are concerned about. And we can find many "friends" (through quotes) who can help us with our need, by sharing encouragement.

By the way, this is one reason why I love to read and I love books. Someone's influence (in the case, one who writes a book or gives a speech- when their words are recorded), can greatly change the life of another (even while many times the person who wrote the book or gave the speech) may have passed away. Their knowledge and wisdom will never pass away as long as we have books (and the written word).

*25 Such a vital, vital message. Yes, you are quite right jnt.

Writing in and of itself is very therapeutic. Writers are able to get their thoughts out of their heads and put it in writing and then they share it with others.

Nobody goes around saying everything they think, however, writers are constantly communicating with us. What a priviledge to be able to read other's words......there is such a wealth of information out there. Even in works of fiction, there are gems of truths hidden inside, which to the observant eye, can become very valuable treasures.

I own a book by Joan Lunden called Wake-Up Calls: Making the Most Out of Everyday (Regardless of What Life Throws You). It is filled with quotes and analogies. I don't tire of reading it. It is therapeutic.

What I find peculiar about quotes, and the reason I love them so, is that they say so much with very few words.

That is why the book of Proverbs is also a treasure trove of wisdom.

I do love collecting Proverbs from all around the world.

An African proverb I love is: "Kindness is something the blind can see and the deaf can hear".

Oh, and your last sentence reminded me of this other African Proverb:

"When an old man dies, a library burns to the ground".

If everyone wrote their memoirs.......wouldn't that be a wonderful gift to leave your family?

"To build up a library is to create a life. It's never just a random collection of books."

Carlos Maria Dominguez, "The House of Paper"

Lovely quote usnmm2. Thank you.

It ties in nicely with the library quote I put in my #26 at the end.

Just beautiful. I'm adding it to my notebook.

26: While I agree whole-heartedly with all your comments here, the following especially is so true:

What I find peculiar about quotes, and the reason I love them so, is that they say so much with very few words.

Amen! So true, so true.

27: That is great, usnmm2. Great words of wisdom.

*29

You get alot of bang for your buck!!

Many times I have lacked to words to express my thoughts, and a small quote will pop into my head.

What do you think of this one for people who just don't get what you're saying:

“I know that you believe you understand what you think I said, but I'm not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant.” R. McCloskey

31: Exactly...that rings true.

>21 CSailin:
Fortunately, the fish is too smart to listen to us.

Os.

Their tomb was simple, and without a bust,
And held within their urn one heart, one mind, one dust.
- Lord Byron, Child Harold's Pilgrimage, Canto III

Which immediately took my mind to:
"...and the two will become one flesh’"

I try to stop every so often and thank God for this wonderful mystery, the greatest blessing of my life.

Os.

*34 Beautiful thought Os.

Reminds me of Solomon's words in Ecclesiastes 4:9-12..........

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their hard work. For if one of them should fall, the other one can raise his partner up. But how will it be with just the one who falls when there is not another to raise him up? Moreover, if two lie down together, they also will certainly get warm; but how can just one keep warm? And if somebody could overpower one alone, two together could make a stand against him. And a threefold cord cannot quickly be torn in two.

Thank you. I will have to look up Lord Byron's work.

"Teachers are like actors. We work in front of an audience. We project our voices to the back of the room. We sing, dance, do our own stunts, and make jokes about pencils from Pennsylvania, ants living in Antarctica, and fractions being invented by Henry the 1/8th." Close Encounters of the Third-Grade Kind by Phillip Done

"Each man is the master of his own death, and all that we can do when the time comes is to help him die without fear or pain".

So says Dr Juvenal Urbino from Love In The Time Of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez.

"is there anything more comforting that doused-in-vinegar chips. The smell is like the childhood you never had,"

The Guards: A Novel by Ken Bruen

Just re-read Benjamin Franklin's Autobiography, and loved the epitaph he crafted (or perhaps borrowed) as a young man.

It quite fits my own feelings nicely:

"The Body of B. Franklin, Printer; like the Cover of an old Book, Its Contents torn out, And stript of its Lettering and Gilding, Lies here, Food for Worms. But the Work shall not be wholly lost; For it will, as he believ'd, appear once more, In a new & more perfect Edition, Corrected and amended By the Author."

I’m currently reading Ernest Hemingway: Man of Courage by Kurt Singer and Jane Sherrod, and I found several quotes in it (from Ernest Hemingway, not the authors) that are very good. Here is a smattering of them, starting with my favorite one:

“So many people are crazy now, it’s almost the thing to be. There are more crazies than sanes. You run into a sane now and you say, ‘What’s the matter with you, boy? You sane?’”

“There will be arguments, tears and fights but I must live my own life. Everyone has to live his own life.”

“When you go to war as a boy, you have great illusions of immortality. Other people get killed—not you… Then when you are badly wounded the first time you lose the illusion and you know it can happen to you… I had a bad time until I figured out that nothing could happen to me that had not happened to all men before me. Whatever I had to do all men had always done. Courage?... it is an impulse!”

“I was always embarrassed by the words ‘sacred,’ ‘glorious,’ and ‘sacrifice’ and the expression ‘in vain’… Abstract words, such as ‘glory,’ ‘honor,’ courage,’ were obscene beside the concrete names of villages, the number of roads, the names of rivers, the numbers of regiments and the dates.”

“If people bring so much courage to the world, the world has to kill them to break them, so of course, it kills them to break them… It kills the very good and the very gentle and the very brave impartially. If you are none of these, you can be sure it will kill you too, but will be in no special hurry.”

“A man both is and is not an island. Sometimes he has to be the strongest island there can be to be a part of the main.”

“There is one thing about an obituary, you never know how great you are until you read it yourself—when you’re supposed to be dead.”

“I know I must not judge, I must accept and try to understand. Understanding is forgiving.”

There are more quotes, but I’ll leave you with these gems for now. There are also several good quotes in the biography about writing and books, for which I think I’ll start a new thread just for quotes on that subject. :-)

"Empathizing with someone is the simple acknowledgment that they, like you, are a human. Empathizing with someone does not suddenly permit them to say and do awful things. People will do those things and think those things whether you empathize with them or not. Empathizing with someone does not cast a vote for their candidate. Only they can do that. Empathizing with someone doesn’t turn their beliefs into a contagion."

"If debate sees wrongdoing as a cause for a battle, and shame sees it as grounds for expulsion and humiliation, then conversation sees transgression as a call for further understanding."

"If shame culture demands accountability through humiliation, then my phone calls argue that conversation is a form of accountability with love."

Dylan Marron, Conversations with people who hate me