The Four Graces Quotes

“The best way to plant happiness is to do at least one thing every day to make one person happier, and to do it for God. That shouldn't be difficult. we can all do that.”
― D.E. Stevenson, The Four Graces

“Life was like that, thought Liz. You drifted on for years and years—then, suddenly, everything happened at once and all the things that had seemed so stable dissolved and disintegrated before your eyes…and life was new.”
― D.E. Stevenson, The Four Graces

“Not in the sense you mean, I’m afraid,” said Mr. Grace firmly. “I have noticed that nowadays when people speak of being broad-minded they really mean muddleheaded, or lacking in principles—or possibly lacking the strength to stand up for any principles they may have. Nowadays people are anxious to appear worse than they are,” said Mr. Grace, smiling. “It’s a queer sort of inverted hypocrisy, Mrs. Smith…but I must apologize for sermonizing.” “Not at all,” replied Mrs. Smith. “I always think it’s so interesting to hear people talking shop.” Mr. Grace was a trifle taken aback at this description of his calling. He was silent.”
― D.E. Stevenson, The Four Graces

“Yes, it is. Some people would find it frightfully dull to be the daughter of the parson at Chevis Green.” “But we don’t,” cried Liz. “That’s exactly what I mean. It’s in you from the beginning. Either there’s this mysterious thing in you that makes you happy—that makes you interested in everything and interesting to yourself—or else there isn’t, and you’re dull and dreary and discontented.”
― D.E. Stevenson, The Four Graces

“all the best people have at least one bat in the belfry.”
― D.E. Stevenson, The Four Graces

“Can’t we have jam?”
“Not today,” said Sal.
“You can have jam yesterday and tomorrow,” said Tilly solemnly”
― D.E. Stevenson, The Four Graces

“but a road upon which he was moving toward eternal life. He was in no hurry to reach the end of the road; for the road, though sorrowful at times, was intensely interesting (there was so much to see and to learn and so many things to do; he would be sorry when he came to the last mile), but still it was as a road that Mr. Grace looked upon it.”
― D.E. Stevenson, The Four Graces

“The young men were strangers to Tilly and therefore strangers to Chevis Green. They looked rather nice, rather interesting, but, as one was tall and fair and the other short and dark, neither of them was the future husband who would love her passionately and help in the production of her family.”
― D.E. Stevenson, The Four Graces

“Tilly was a trifle dashed. “Oh!” she said. “Oh, I can’t help believing there’s something in it, you know. She’s so weird. She’s got such a marvelous deep voice…she says I’ve got an absolutely marvelous fortune. I’m born under Leo, which makes me terribly brave, and I’m going to have seven children.” “You will need courage for that,” said Mr. Grace gravely. “I find four children rather more than I can manage comfortably.” “My husband will be tall,” continued Tilly. “Tall and dark—and he will love me passionately. I can’t remember any more at the moment.” “You have remembered quite enough to go on with,” said Mr. Grace.”
― D.E. Stevenson, The Four Graces

“The only human beings in the neighborhood who were not looking forward to a happy day were members of the local constabulary, for it seemed pretty certain that a good many otherwise law-abiding people would come in motor cars, burning gas that had been allotted them for domestic purposes only, and the English bobby does not fancy himself in the role of Gestapo official.”
― D.E. Stevenson, The Four Graces

“Sal sat down beside Tilly on the sofa so that they could talk in whispers. (Odd that one should have to talk in whispers in one’s own drawing room; odd, but necessary, for Aunt Rona had a way of appearing suddenly and silently when one least expected her.) “Do you think she’s stupid?” repeated Tilly. “No,” said Sal. “No, she’s rather clever in her own way. Stupid in some ways, perhaps…” “You never know what she’s thinking,” complained Tilly.”
― D.E. Stevenson, The Four Graces

“Here!” exclaimed Mr. Grace. “No, no. That would never do. Rona was always a trifle—er—difficult. Even Mary found her a little—er—difficult, and Mary was extraordinarily easy herself. So you see—” “Yes, Father, but—” “No,” said Mr. Grace with unusual vigor. “No, Sal. The desire to have her here does great credit to your heart, but you don’t quite understand.” “She is here,” said Sal. “She is here!” cried Mr. Grace in—yes, in alarm, and he half rose from his chair and looked toward the windows”
― D.E. Stevenson, The Four Graces

“The doctor had said she must lie perfectly flat on her back for six months…Mother had tried to be cheerful about it—both of them had tried to be cheerful. “Poor Mary,” said Aunt Rona, with a sigh. “What an anxiety you were! What an expense!” “Yes,” said Sal. “I must have been, I suppose.” “Mary had a very unfortunate life—four daughters and no son.” Sal was about to agree again, and then she changed her mind. Why should I? she thought. It isn’t her business…how does she know Mother wanted a boy? Mother never said so to her, that’s certain.”
― D.E. Stevenson, The Four Graces

“Tilly was talking to William—they all called him William now—she was saying: “If you really like sardine sandwiches that’s too easy. We’ve got lots of tinned sardines in the store cupboard because we laid in a stock of them when it said on the wireless that everyone was to lay in a store of food in case of invasion…and then, of course, it changed its mind and said people who stored food were food hoarders and ought to be shot, but by that time the deed was done.” “You weren’t shot,” said William. “Nobody knew,” replied Tilly, dimpling.”
― D.E. Stevenson, The Four Graces

“Let’s plant happiness in our little patch; it has such a sweet smell on a summer evening. Yes, but how can I plant it, you’ll say. The best way to plant happiness is to do at least one thing every day to make one person happier, and to do it for God. That shouldn’t be difficult. We can all do that. Happiness grows best that way, and it’s a plant that seeds itself in the right kind of soil. We shall find it growing in our own hearts if we sow it freely—growing and flowering not only in the summer, but all through the year…”
― D.E. Stevenson, The Four Graces

“So you know about the war,” said Sal gravely. “They wouldn’t have me,” he said, shaking his head. “I’m over forty and in a reserved occupation. They took the younger men—weeds compared with me. It seems strange that they didn’t take me, doesn’t it?” It was just as well, thought Sal. They were well advised not to have him, for he would have spoiled the symmetry of any regiment. He might easily have knocked the colonel off his horse, thought Sal, looking at him. He would almost certainly have trodden upon a mine or shot one of his comrades by mistake. Give him a grenade to throw, and ten to one he would have dropped it…no, he was better at home.”
― D.E. Stevenson, The Four Graces

“She needn’t worry about sharks—or Japs,” declared Sal. “As a matter of fact— ” “That’s what I tell ’er, Miss Sal. Don’t you worry, I said. If Bob’s going to be bitten by a shark, ’e’ll be bitten an’ no amount of worrying will ’elp ’im.” “I don’t think there are any sharks in Shetland.”
― D.E. Stevenson, The Four Graces

“He will be no trouble in the house,” declared Mr. Grace with his usual optimism. “How do you know?” inquired Liz. “I mean if you scarcely know the man, you can’t possibly know his habits.”
― D.E. Stevenson, The Four Graces

“When Tilly was fifteen she had imagined herself in love with Archie Cobbe, for he was exactly the sort of young man to awaken a romantic attachment. He was so big and so good-looking and people said he was wild. You met him sometimes, riding about Chevis Green on a prancing horse and he always waved his cap and shouted “Hallo!” Then old Lady Chevis had died and left him Chevis Place, and Archie had taken the name of “Chevis” and settled down into a model squire.”
― D.E. Stevenson, The Four Graces

“The story covers less than a year in the life of a family, and during this comparatively short period many things happen, some serious and important, others cheerful and gay. It is summertime—a summer during the greatest and most terrible of wars—but the author felt disinclined to bring such a grave and desperate matter into a lighthearted tale; here, then, are to be found only the lighter side and the small inconveniences of Total War; the larger issues are ignored.”
― D.E. Stevenson, The Four Graces