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31 May 04 - 07:08 PM (#1197951) Subject: BS: Another Steinbeck quote! From: Deckman As I mentioned a few weeks ago, I happen to love the writings of John Steinbeck. When my well runs dry, I often return to Steinbeck's writing to refresh myself. I re-read this the other day. I was so delighted with it that I read it to two of my three grown children. They started chuckling early on. Then I was delighted when, a half hour later, they were still still sharing stories between them about the "craziness" that their Father (me) had laid on them. I hope that you all enjoy this: This is Steinbeck's writing in "The Log From The Sea Of Cortez." This passage is NOT Steinbeck himself, but rather he is quoting from Ed Ricketts, his very close friend. Here, Ed Ricketts is saying: "Adults, in their dealing with children, are insane," he said. "And children know it too. Adults lay down rules they would not think of following, speak truths they do not believe. And yet, they expect children to obey the rules, believe the truths, and admire and respect their parents for this nonesense. Children must be very wise and secret to tolerate parents at all. And the greatest nonesense of all that parents expect children to believe is that people learn by experience. No greater lie was ever revered. And the falseness in immediatly discerned by children since their parents have obviously not learned anything by experience. Far from learning, adults simply become set in a maze of prejudices and dreams and sets of rules whose origins they do not know and would not dare inspect for fear the whole structure might topple over on them. I think children instictively know this," Ed said. "Intelligent children learn to conceal their knowledge and keep free of this howling mania." I hope that you also enjoy this piece of wisdom and I look forward to your comments. CHEERS, Bob(deckman)Nelson |
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31 May 04 - 07:14 PM (#1197956) Subject: RE: BS: Another Steinbeck quote! From: Peace It reminds me of something that came from Barbara Coloroso. She is an educator and a teachers' teacher. She also gives workshops for parents who are raising children. Think to those times when we have gone strange getting our kids to put their boots on the 'right' feet. Her advice? Don't sweat it. When the wrongly placed boots begin to hurt the child's feet, they will switch the boots around. BM |
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31 May 04 - 07:26 PM (#1197965) Subject: RE: BS: Another Steinbeck quote! From: Mudlark Bob...Steinbeck is an old and reliable favorite of mine as well...I don't have kids, so can't speak to your quote. But I do have trouble with things mechanical, and in that same book, if I recall properly, there is a wonderful passage about the malignant and mean-spirited personality of a certain outboard motor.... |
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31 May 04 - 07:31 PM (#1197971) Subject: RE: BS: Another Steinbeck quote! From: Little Hawk Steinbeck is absolutely correct. Great quote. Adults are, as he says, "set in a maze of prejudices and dreams and sets of rules whose origins they do not know and would not dare inspect for fear the whole structure might topple over on them". |
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31 May 04 - 07:34 PM (#1197973) Subject: RE: BS: Another Steinbeck quote! From: Amos Bravo, to Steinbeck, Ricketts and Deckman. What a triple play! :>) I have emailed the quote to my long suffering Barky. A |
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31 May 04 - 07:41 PM (#1197985) Subject: RE: BS: Another Steinbeck quote! From: GUEST,Jophn O'Lennaine Deckman - I too love Steinbeck, and one of my favourite passages in literature comes from that book. There is a passage where he talks about how taking a piece of algae from a rock pool does not affect the tidal shelf, and progresses to how the great bombs falling do not affect the stars, finishing with "All of it matters or none of it does." It's been about thirty years since I read that, and it still blows me out. Mudlark - Thanks for reminding me. I'd forgotten that piece about the outboard motor. A delightful passage. I must try to get hold of that book again. John |
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31 May 04 - 07:44 PM (#1197988) Subject: RE: BS: Another Steinbeck quote! From: pdq They called the outboard motor the "Hanson Sea Cow", an obvious sendup of the "Johnson Sea Horse". |
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31 May 04 - 08:11 PM (#1198005) Subject: RE: BS: Another Steinbeck quote! From: Barky that long suffering father o' mine did NOT email me that quote. Silly man. Ricketts was a smart man for saying such things, Steinbeck was a smart man for understanding and reprinting such things. Smart men abound. May I just say that I find it amazing that the Mudcat still remembered who I am when I logged in for the first time in something like 5 years? My piece has been said. ~Barky |
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31 May 04 - 08:18 PM (#1198011) Subject: RE: BS: Another Steinbeck quote! From: Barky ok ok, it's been closer to two and a half years. I checked. ~Barky |
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31 May 04 - 08:19 PM (#1198012) Subject: RE: BS: Another Steinbeck quote! From: Deckman "Barky" ... and your piece has been heard. Bob |
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31 May 04 - 08:32 PM (#1198013) Subject: RE: BS: Another Steinbeck quote! From: Amos Barky just called to say she did get my email after all. As if I would make up something like that! :>) And the wonderful perspective in "all of it matters, or none of it does" whirls me out of my head too, and brings me face to face with Thomas Eliot: "Teach us to care, and not to care." A |
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31 May 04 - 09:10 PM (#1198045) Subject: RE: BS: Another Steinbeck quote! From: Deckman Amos, I never doubted you! Bob |
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31 May 04 - 09:43 PM (#1198060) Subject: RE: BS: Another Steinbeck quote! From: darkriver "We must remember three things. Number one and first in importance, we must have as much fun as we can with what we have. Number two, we must eat as well as we can, because if we don't, we won't have the health and strength to have as much fun as we might. Number three, and third and last in importance, we must keep the house reasonably in order, wash the dishes and such things. But we will not let the last interfere with the other two." From "About Ed Ricketts", (preface to Log From the Sea of Cortez0 |
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31 May 04 - 10:29 PM (#1198093) Subject: RE: BS: Another Steinbeck quote! From: Deckman Well said! Bob |