The wisdom of Enid Blyton (quotes on various subjects)

[auscatherine]

Apologies if this has been done previously but it occurred to me the other day that it would be good to come up with a collection of quotes that illustrates Ms Blyton or her character's views/wisdom on a variety of topics. I will start with a couple from Five on a Treasure Island and hope that others can add some more to the list (or add to the same subjects if you can find another quote from somewhere else on the same thing).

On grown-ups - "It wasn't a bit of good fighting grown-ups. They could do exactly as they liked". (Julian in Five On a Treasure Island)

On only children - "They're alway a bit odd, you know, unless they're mighty careful" (Julian in Five On a Treasure Island)

[Anita Bensoussane]

A great topic!

When things go wrong - "The best way to treat obstacles is to use them as stepping-stones. Laugh at them, tread on them, and let them lead you to something better." (Jimmy's mother in Mr. Galliano's Circus.)

On faces - "I think people make their own faces, as they grow." (Joan Townsend in The Naughtiest Girl Again.)

[Aurélien]

Great idea for a thread, Catherine.

From memory, when I was reading EB's books as a youngster, many of her most memorable quotes were signposts to proper (moral) behaviour, and the fact that she was (unlike most other contemporary writers for children) able and willing to paint some of her adult characters in an unflattering, uncompromisingly critical light was a big attraction. Pity I never thought to keep a notebook with examples as I read, but I'll be on the look-out from now on.

‘Aurélien Arkadiusz’

[70s-child]

There's this one from the Sea of Adventure: "Friendship - loyalty - staunchness in the face of danger - they and Bill both knew these things and recognized them for the fine things they were".
I found it intimidating even as a child.

[Anita Bensoussane]

On being a judge of character - "The point is not that I don't recognise bad people when I see them - I grant you that I may quite well be taken in by them - the point is that I know a good person when I see one." (Snubby in The Rubadub Mystery.)

On acquiring useful skills - "I'm good at exploring roofs. You never know when that kind of thing comes in useful." (Snubby in The Rubadub Mystery.)

[70s-child]

On being a judge of character - "The point is not that I don't recognise bad people when I see them - I grant you that I may quite well be taken in by them - the point is that I know a good person when I see one." (Snubby in The Rubadub Mystery.)

This is one my favorite Snubby moments. Thanks for putting it up Anita.

[Timmylover]

In First Term at Malory Towers Miss Potts advises Darrell: "You will be a finer character if you go along on your own, than if you copy other people. You see, what you do, you do whole-heartedly - so if you play the fool, naturally other things will suffer".

Following on from Darrell's description of her surgeon father, a whole-hearted man who "...just goes in for giving back people their health and happiness with all his heart - so he's marvellous", Miss Potts comments: "... when you choose something worth while like doctoring - or teaching - or writing or painting, it is best to be whole-hearted about it. It doesn't so much matter for a second-rate or third-rate person. But if you happen to have the makings of a first-rate person and you mean to choose a first-rate job when you grow up, then you must learn to be whole-hearted when you are young".

I wonder which people, close to Enid's heart, she was referring to?

[Ming]

Doctoring - Kenneth Darrell Waters
Teaching and writing - definitely herself.

[Timmylover]

Spot on, Ming!

That's the message I also got. I think this was an opportunity for Enid to express her attitude towards her writing - whole-heartedly, and her admiration of her husband's work. Did she do this in any other books?

[Ming]

Lizzy Farrell in House-at-the-Corner writes several short stories, encouraged by Great Aunt Grace. Darrell Rivers whole-heartedly writes a play in In The Fifth at Malory Towers. I'm sure there are more, but these are the ones that spring to mind.

[Fiona1986]

I really love the speach Miss Grayling gives all of the new girls at Malory Towers. I don't have it to hand, but it is about getting a lot out of MT and giving a lot back.

[Ming]

Dorcas' speech on beauty is beautiful - "There's more beauty in your face, seems to me, than there ever was in Mrs David's — and I'm not talking about skin and eyes and nose now, Mam. I'm talking about character. Your nature's writ plain in your face and makes it beautiful to all your family-yes, and to me too. But you'll look in vain for that kind of beauty in Mrs David's face!"

[Anita Bensoussane]

Dorcas' speech on beauty is beautiful...

I agree. It's one of my favourite Enid Blyton quotations. I love the part that follows that as well, when Blyton writes that "beauty came unexpectedly into her [Dorcas'] face too at moments," when she was teasing Susan, or fussing over a motherless lamb, or working hard at some urgent task.

Anita

[Jeffery Greyling]

Dorcas' speech on beauty is beautiful...

I agree. It's one of my favourite Enid Blyton quotations. I love the part that follows that as well, when Blyton writes that "beauty came unexpectedly into her [Dorcas'] face too at moments," when she was teasing Susan, or fussing over a motherless lamb, or working hard at some urgent task.

Anita

That was my favourite too! I really should have remembered that. I've also got to read Six Cousins Again.

[Jeffery Greyling]

Another one from Mistletoe Farm: "You're trying to escape from your difficulties, and there never is any escape from difficulties, never.They have to be faced and fought."