Barrie, James -- Peter and Wendy, ch. 1 “Peter Breaks Through” (1911)

Dave — Tue, 04 Feb 2025 18:44:09 +0000

All children, except one, grow up. They soon know that they will grow up, and the way Wendy knew was this. One day when she was two years old she was playing in a garden, and she plucked another flower and ran with it to her mother. I suppose she must have looked rather delightful, for Mrs. Darling put her hand to her heart and cried, “Oh, why can’t you remain like this for ever!” This was all that passed between them on the subject, but henceforth Wendy knew that she must grow up. You always know after you are two. Two is the beginning of the end.

J. M. Barrie (1860-1937) Scottish novelist and dramatist [James Matthew Barrie]
Peter and Wendy, ch. 1 “Peter Breaks Through” (1911)
(Source)

Opening words, not included in the play.

Eliot, George -- Scenes of Clerical Life, “Janet’s Repentance,” ch. 8 (1857)

Dave — Fri, 29 Mar 2024 17:02:03 +0000

A toddling little girl is a centre of common feeling which makes the most dissimilar people understand each other.

George Eliot (1819-1880) English novelist [pseud. of Mary Ann Evans]
Scenes of Clerical Life, “Janet’s Repentance,” ch. 8 (1857)
(Source)

WIST Quotations

Barrie, James -- Peter and Wendy, ch. 1 “Peter Breaks Through” (1911)

Eliot, George -- Scenes of Clerical Life, “Janet’s Repentance,” ch. 8 (1857)