264 Quotes by Betty Smith

But she didn’t want to recall things. She wanted to live things – or as a compromise, re-live rather than reminisce.

The library was a little old shabby place. Francie thought it was beautiful. The feeling she had about it was as good as the feeling she had about church. She pushed open the door and went in. She liked the combined smell of worn leather bindings, library paste and freshly inked stamping pads better than she liked the smell of burning incense at high mass.

I never listen to what people tell me and I can’t read. The only way I know what is right and wrong is the way I feel about things. If I feel bad, it’s wrong. If I feel good, it’s right.

She had heard Papa sing so many songs about the heart; the heart that was breaking – was aching – was dancing -was heavy laden – that leaped for joy – that was heavy in sorrow – that turned over – that stood still. She really believed the heart actually did those things.

If I open this envelope fifty years from now, I will be again as I am now and there will be no being old for me. There’s a long, long time yet before fifty years... millions of hours of time. But one hour has gone already since I sat here... one hour less to live... one hour gone away from all the hours of my life.

But I saved it for you because I know your mama likes tongue and I like your mama. You.

Neeley came home and he and Francie were sent out for the weekend meat. This was an important ritual and called for detail instructions by mama.

I’ll not punish you for having an imagination.

Part of her life was made from the tree growing rankly in the yard. She was the bitter quarrels she had with her brother whom she loved dearly. She was Katie’s secret, despairing weeping. She was the shame of her father staggering home drunk.