The Mouse and His Child Quotes

“Have you paused to consider that there is no way out? Each way out of one situation necessarily being the way into another situation.”
― Russell Hoban, The Mouse and His Child

“The mouse and his child, who had learned so much and had prevailed against such overwhelming odds, never could be persuaded to teach a success course... The whole secret of the thing, they insisted, was simply and at all costs to move steadily ahead, and that, they said, could not be taught.”
― Russell Hoban, The Mouse and His Child

“Where are we?' the mouse child asked his father. His voice was tiny in the stillness of the night. 'I don't know' the father replied. 'What are we Papa?'. 'I don't know. We must wait and see'.”
― Russell Hoban, The Mouse and His Child

“What do you do when you're wound up?' she asked. 'Do you play that drum?'. 'No,' said the child. 'We used to dance.' 'But now we walk,' said the father. 'And behind us an enemy walks faster.' 'That's life,' said Euterpe.”
― Russell Hoban, The Mouse and His Child

“All roads, whether long or short, are hard," said Frog. "Come, you have begun your journey, and all else necessarily follows from that act. Be of good cheer. The sun is bright. The sky is blue. The world lies before you.”
― Russell Hoban, The Mouse and His Child

“If we'd been edible we'd never have lasted this long.”
― Russell Hoban, The Mouse and His Child

“The mouse and his child, who had learned so much and had prevailed against such overwhelming odds, never could be persuaded to teach a success course. Popular demand was intense, but they steadfastly refused. The whole secret of the thing, they insisted, was simply and at all costs to move steadily ahead, and that, they said, could not be taught.”
― Russell Hoban, The Mouse and His Child

“Here below the surface one studies the depths of TO BE, as manifest in AM, IS, and ARE. And if you don't hold up your end of the conversation I may very well snap you in two.”
― Russell Hoban, The Mouse and His Child

“What is all this talk of elephants and seals?' asked Frog. 'It's nonsense', said the father, 'and yet it's not the child's fault. Our motor is in me. He fills the empty space inside himself with foolish dreams that cannot possibly come true'.”
― Russell Hoban, The Mouse and His Child

“He grew morose, and felt himself half overcome by funk”
― Russell Hoban, The Mouse and His Child