A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

by Betty Smith

A person who pulls himself up from a low environment via the bootstrap route has two choices. Having risen above his environment, he can forget it; or, he can rise above it and never forget it and keep compassion and understanding in his heart for those he has left behind him in the cruel upclimb.

“There are very few bad people. There are just a lot of people that are unlucky.”

“If God has charge of all the world,” said Francie, “and the sun and the moon and the stars and all the birds and trees and flowers and all the animals and people, you’d think He’d be too busy and too important—wouldn’t you—to spend so much time punishing one man—one man like Papa.” “I don’t think you should talk about God like that,” said Neeley uneasily. “He might strike you down dead.” “Then let Him,” cried Francie fiercely. “Let Him strike me down dead right here in the gutter where I sit!”

The last time of anything has the poignancy of death itself.