Overlying Theme Quotes & Sayings

America has always had tinkerers, including just about any teenager who ever hot-rodded a Camaro. — Clive Thompson

[T]he direction of society has been taken over by a type of man who is not interested in the principles of civilisation. Not of this or that civilisation but from what we can judge to-day of any civilisation ... [T]he type of man dominant to-day is a primitive one, a Naturmensch rising up in the midst of a civilised world. — Jose Ortega Y Gasset

One of them stepped from the crowd. It was Zeebo, the garbage collector. "Mister Jem," he said, "we're mighty glad to have you all here. Don't pay no 'tention to Lula, she's contentious because Reverend Sykes threatened to church her. She's a troublemaker from way back, got fancy ideas an' haughty ways - we're mighty glad to have you all." With that, Calpurnia led us to the church door where we were greeted by Reverend Sykes, who led us to the front pew. First Purchase was unceiled and unpainted within. Along its walls unlighted kerosense lamps hung on brass brackets; pine benches served as pews. Behind the rough oak pulpit a faded pink silk banner proclaimed God Is Love, the church's only decoration except a roto-gravure print of Hunt's The Light of the World. — Harper Lee

Martin Luther explaining the attitude we ought to have toward those who offend us, said Christians should "grieve more over the sin of their offenders than over the loss or offense to themselves." This is radical relational thinking. And they do this that they may recall those offenders from their sin rather than avenge the wrongs they themselves have suffered. — Britt Merrick

We don't laugh because we're happy, we're happy because we laugh. — William James

She was not a little girl heart-broken about him; she was a grown woman smiling at it all, but they were wet smiles. — J.M. Barrie