Blind Mice quotes
The lines readers remember from Blind Mice, by C. Kay Scott.
21 quotes · About the book
Standout lines
Lucy, don’t you ever, ever dream for a second that anyone could take your place for a tiny instant. Why, sweetheart, I love you. I only like other people.
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“You dear, sweet, foolish, jealous little thing,” he whispered, laughing. “The idea! Why you precious darling, I was only trying to be nice to your mother on her first day for your sake.
Lucy, don’t you ever, ever dream for a second that anyone could take your place for a tiny instant. Why, sweetheart, I love you. I only like other people.
”
You would like to murder his soul. You want to interfere with every thought and impulse the child has!
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“That’s exactly what you are doing!” cried Lucy bitterly. “
You would like to murder his soul. You want to interfere with every thought and impulse the child has!
”
Sex is the most of life, dear. One can’t escape it any more than one can death, and the most fatal thing is to try to.
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“
Sex is the most of life, dear. One can’t escape it any more than one can death, and the most fatal thing is to try to.
Look at celibates for example. I have learned a great deal in forty years, Lucy, and I knew when I advised you to marry, that John was not great individually.
But the fact remains, dear, that sex is greater than we, just as life and death are greater, and we can escape neither its ecstasy nor its agony.
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“I have no highfalutin’ ideas about the sanctity of marriage, or any such nonsense,” Miss Storms went on in the same half musing tone, “although I realize that, in spite of what is perhaps some intellectual breadth, I have an old maid’s emotional idealism.
But the fact remains, dear, that sex is greater than we, just as life and death are greater, and we can escape neither its ecstasy nor its agony.
We mate to suffer as well as to joy, Lucy, and you are happier than I.”
Men, even the greatest of them, never grow up.
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“You just hold on, dear,” she advised. “
Men, even the greatest of them, never grow up.
I think I have a plan that will do the trick. Let me gnaw over it tonight, and I’ll see you in a day or two. Everything’s going to be all right.” Miss Storms nodded reassuringly.
Women are always deceiving men for their own good, you know, dear.
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“Well, you will hear from me soon. But on account of John’s attitude toward Arthur and Ellen, and toward me, he must never know—more than he already knows—about my having anything to do with it.
Women are always deceiving men for their own good, you know, dear.
” Miss Storms jested sourly.
All quotes
Jump to a chapter
Chapter I
To be sufficient for yourselves is the greatest crime toward other people,
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“
To be sufficient for yourselves is the greatest crime toward other people,
” remarked Jim, straightening Dimmie’s collar. “Believe it’s begun to rain again,” he added, glancing toward the window.
Chapter II
Nothing infuriates people like receiving justice, Lucy.
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“
Nothing infuriates people like receiving justice, Lucy.
”
Chapter III
Lucy, don’t you ever, ever dream for a second that anyone could take your place for a tiny instant. Why, sweetheart, I love you. I only like other people.
Show the passage
“You dear, sweet, foolish, jealous little thing,” he whispered, laughing. “The idea! Why you precious darling, I was only trying to be nice to your mother on her first day for your sake.
Lucy, don’t you ever, ever dream for a second that anyone could take your place for a tiny instant. Why, sweetheart, I love you. I only like other people.
”
Chapter VI
Lucy, I wasn’t thinking of myself at all. It’s you I’m glad for.
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“I!” exclaimed Nannie indignantly. “Why,
Lucy, I wasn’t thinking of myself at all. It’s you I’m glad for.
”
Chapter VII
I wouldn’t ask her for a drink of water if I were dying,
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“
I wouldn’t ask her for a drink of water if I were dying,
” Arthur answered. Lucy had never heard such suppressed hatred and vehemence in his tone. “There’s the train,” he added in his ordinary manner, and they moved toward the platform.
Chapter VIII
You poison the air. I wonder the flowers don’t die as you pass by.
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“I can’t put my feelings into words,” he answered mercilessly. “
You poison the air. I wonder the flowers don’t die as you pass by.
” His tone was coldly implacable and he did not raise his voice.
Chapter XII
The old standards by which Jim had measured values were of no more use to him.
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Jim watched his father disappear, and, after a moment’s hesitation, walked away with rapid strides. He sought his home when it was daybreak.
The old standards by which Jim had measured values were of no more use to him.
Chapter XIII
John has his rose-colored spectacles on again.
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Lucy did not puzzle him, but it was only after knowing her that he realized the idealism and emotionalism of John. The realization did not cool his affection. He only smiled to himself when his friend allowed enthusiasm to blind discretion, and said, “
John has his rose-colored spectacles on again.
”
Chapter XIX
Oh, Jim, why can’t people be honest with themselves and with others?
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“Why, of course you do,” she responded heartily and naturally. “It always does me good to talk to you.” Then she added rather plaintively, “
Oh, Jim, why can’t people be honest with themselves and with others?
”
Chapter XXI
You would like to murder his soul. You want to interfere with every thought and impulse the child has!
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“That’s exactly what you are doing!” cried Lucy bitterly. “
You would like to murder his soul. You want to interfere with every thought and impulse the child has!
”
Chapter XXVII
I’d advise you to poison her, dear, if I weren’t afraid of getting you in worse trouble than you are.
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“
I’d advise you to poison her, dear, if I weren’t afraid of getting you in worse trouble than you are.
”
Sex is the most of life, dear. One can’t escape it any more than one can death, and the most fatal thing is to try to.
Show the passage
“
Sex is the most of life, dear. One can’t escape it any more than one can death, and the most fatal thing is to try to.
Look at celibates for example. I have learned a great deal in forty years, Lucy, and I knew when I advised you to marry, that John was not great individually.
The female is the type—the responsible one. They are the race. Men are their possessions.
Show the passage
“You may think me hard on women, Lucy. Nature is hard on them. You may think there are other men—Jim Sprague, for instance—but there aren’t.
The female is the type—the responsible one. They are the race. Men are their possessions.
You chose John to be the father of your children—and you didn’t Jim.”
But the fact remains, dear, that sex is greater than we, just as life and death are greater, and we can escape neither its ecstasy nor its agony.
Show the passage
“I have no highfalutin’ ideas about the sanctity of marriage, or any such nonsense,” Miss Storms went on in the same half musing tone, “although I realize that, in spite of what is perhaps some intellectual breadth, I have an old maid’s emotional idealism.
But the fact remains, dear, that sex is greater than we, just as life and death are greater, and we can escape neither its ecstasy nor its agony.
We mate to suffer as well as to joy, Lucy, and you are happier than I.”
Men, even the greatest of them, never grow up.
Show the passage
“You just hold on, dear,” she advised. “
Men, even the greatest of them, never grow up.
I think I have a plan that will do the trick. Let me gnaw over it tonight, and I’ll see you in a day or two. Everything’s going to be all right.” Miss Storms nodded reassuringly.
Women are always deceiving men for their own good, you know, dear.
Show the passage
“Well, you will hear from me soon. But on account of John’s attitude toward Arthur and Ellen, and toward me, he must never know—more than he already knows—about my having anything to do with it.
Women are always deceiving men for their own good, you know, dear.
” Miss Storms jested sourly.
Chapter XXVIII
The murmur of the street sounded as remote as the echo of the ocean in a shell.
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Coming into the office from a luncheon he had scarcely tasted, he removed his coat, and settled himself for a hard afternoon’s work. The windows were raised but not a breath came to stir the papers on his desk.
The murmur of the street sounded as remote as the echo of the ocean in a shell.
The door opened and Lucy came in. Jim glanced up, startled, but did not speak.
Chapter XXX
“We’re blind mice, all right,” Jim remarked without spirit, as if to himself.
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“That’s it,” she ended. “There’s nothing more that could be said.”
“We’re blind mice, all right,” Jim remarked without spirit, as if to himself.
“Poor boy!” Miss Storms spoke simply, almost with tenderness.
“She’s cut more than our tails off,” he growled huskily.
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“Poor boy!” Miss Storms spoke simply, almost with tenderness.
“She’s cut more than our tails off,” he growled huskily.
Miss Storms laid her hand softly on his.
Ruthlessness appears to be a purely female trait.
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“
Ruthlessness appears to be a purely female trait.
” Miss Storms’ half humorous air was full of bitterness.
Chapter XXXI
“Oh, Lucy, I want to be loved! I want to be loved!”
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Lucy stood up too. Her eyes were very bright. Involuntarily she put one hand on her bosom. Nannie watched her.
“Oh, Lucy, I want to be loved! I want to be loved!”
Nannie protested suddenly, dissolving into tears again.
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