Caddie Woodlawn Quotes

“It's a strange thing, but somehow we expect more of girls than of boys. It is the sisters and wives and mothers, you know, Caddie, who keep the world sweet and beautiful. What a rough world it would be if there were only men and boys in it, doing things in their rough way! A woman's task is to teach them gentleness and courtesy and love and kindness. It's a big task, too, Caddie--harder than cutting trees or building mills or damming rivers. It takes nerve and courage and patience, but good women have those things. They have them just as much as the men who build bridges and carve roads through the wilderness. A woman's work is something fine and noble to grow up to, and it is just as important as a man's.”
― Carol Ryrie Brink, Caddie Woodlawn

“Life is just a lot of everyday adventures.”
― Carol Ryrie Brink, Caddie Woodlawn

“How far I've come! I'm the same girl and yet not the same. I wonder if it's always like that? Folks keep growing from one person into another all their lives, and life is just a lot of everyday adventures. Well, whatever life is, I like it.”
― Carol Ryrie Brink, Caddie Woodlawn

“If at first you don't fricassee, Fry, fry a hen!”
― Carol Ryrie Brink, Caddie Woodlawn

“Pioneer children were always having mishaps, but they were expected to know how to use their heads in emergencies.”
― Carol Ryrie Brink, Caddie Woodlawn

“. . . the three adventurers were overcome by that delicious weariness which suddenly overtakes one at the end of an outdoor day.”
― Carol Ryrie Brink, Caddie Woodlawn

“No, that is not what I want for you, my little girl. I want you to be a woman with a wise and understanding heart, healthy in body and honest in mind.”
― Carol Ryrie Brink, Caddie Woodlawn

“Savages were savages, but what could one expect of civilized men who plotted massacre?”
― Carol Ryrie Brink, Caddie Woodlawn

“In those days the worst vice in England was pride, I guess—the worst vice of all, because folks thought it was a virtue.”
― Carol Ryrie Brink, Caddie Woodlawn

“It’s a strange thing, but somehow we expect more of girls than of boys. It is the sisters and wives and mothers, you know, Caddie, who keep the world sweet and beautiful. What a rough world it would be if there were only men and boys in it, doing things in their rough way! A woman’s task is to teach them gentleness and courtesy and love and kindness. It’s a big task, too, Caddie—harder than cutting trees or building mills or damming rivers. It takes nerve and courage and patience, but good women have those things. They have them just as much as the men who build bridges and carve roads through the wilderness. A woman’s work is something fine and noble to grow up to, and it is just as important as a man’s. But no man could ever do it so well. I don’t want you to be the silly, affected person with fine clothes and manners whom folks sometimes call a lady. No, that is not what I want for you, my little girl. I want you to be a woman with a wise and understanding heart, healthy in body and honest in mind. Do you think you would like to be growing up into that woman now? How about it, Caddie, have we run with the colts long enough?”
― Carol Ryrie Brink, Caddie Woodlawn

“But every redhead's temper has its limitations.”
― Carol Ryrie Brink, Caddie Woodlawn

“Whatever happens I want you to think of yourselves as young Americans, and I want you to be proud of that. It is difficult to tell you about England, because there all men are not free to pursue their own lives in their own ways. Some men live like princes, while other men must beg for the very crusts that keep them alive.”
― Carol Ryrie Brink, Caddie Woodlawn

“. . . the three adventurers were overcome by that delicious weariness which suddenly overtakes on at the end of an outdoor day.”
― Carol Ryrie Brink, Caddie Woodlawn

“It was a hard struggle, but what I have in life I have earned with my own hands. I have done well, and I have an honest man's honest pride. I want no lands and honors which I have not won by my own good sense and industry.”
― Carol Ryrie Brink, Caddie Woodlawn

“eyes wide”
― Carol Ryrie Brink, Caddie Woodlawn

“although they might never be rich or famous in America, they would have the satisfaction of knowing that what they had they had made for themselves.”
― Carol Ryrie Brink, Caddie Woodlawn

“It was a hard struggle, but what I have in life I have earned with my own hands. I have done well, and I have an honest man’s honest pride. I want no lands and honors which I have not won by my own good sense and industry.”
― Carol Ryrie Brink, Caddie Woodlawn