WIST Quotations

McGinley, Phyllis -- “What Every Woman Knows,” Times Three (1960)

Dave — Fri, 19 Jul 2024 13:52:13 +0000

For little boys are rancorous
When robbed of any myth,
And spiteful and cantankerous
To all their kin and kith.
But little girls can draw conclusions
And profit from their lost illusions.

Phyllis McGinley (1905–1978) American author, poet
“What Every Woman Knows,” Times Three (1960)

On when kids figure out that Santa Claus is not real.

Atwood, Margaret -- Cat’s Eye, ch. 22 (1988)

Dave — Tue, 01 Jun 2021 20:43:25 +0000

Little girls are cute and small only to adults. To one another they are not cute. They are life-sized.

Margaret Atwood (b. 1939) Canadian writer, literary critic, environmental activist
Cat’s Eye, ch. 22 (1988)

Crabbe, George -- Tales of the Hall, “The Maid’s Story” (1819)

Dave — Thu, 07 Sep 2017 15:45:34 +0000

Secrets with girls, like loaded guns with boys,
Are never valued till they make a noise.

George Crabbe (1754–1832) English poet, writer, surgeon, clergyman
Tales of the Hall, “The Maid’s Story” (1819)

Keillor, Garrison -- The Book of Guys (1993)

Dave — Thu, 15 Jan 2015 13:06:39 +0000

Girls … were allowed to play in the house … and boys were sent outdoors. … Boys ran around in the yard with toy guns going kksshh-kksshh, fighting wars for made-up reasons and arguing about who was dead, while girls stayed inside and played with dolls, creating complex family groups and learning how to solve problems through negotiation and roleplaying. Which gender is better equipped, on the whole, to live an adult life, would you guess?

Garrison Keillor (b. 1942) American entertainer, author
The Book of Guys (1993)