Betty MacDonald

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There’s nothing as cozy as a piece of candy and a book.
- Betty MacDonald
Collection: Book
Image of Betty MacDonald
I am neither Christian enough nor charitable enough to like anybody just because he is alive and breathing. I want people to interest or amuse me. I want them fascinating and witty or so dul as to be different. I want them either intellectually stimulating or wonderfully corny; perfectly charming or hundred percent stinker. I like my chosen companions to be distinguishable from the undulating masses and I don't care how.
- Betty MacDonald
Collection: Christian
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The coffee was so strong it snarled as it lurched out of the pot.
- Betty MacDonald
Collection: Strong
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In the country Sunday is the day on which you do exactly as much work as you do on other days but feel guilty all the time you are doing it because Sunday is a day of rest.
- Betty MacDonald
Collection: Country
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Her magic formula for dealing with children is ignoring all faults and accenting tiny virtues. She says, "Instead of telling Tommy day in and day out that he is the naughtiest boy in the United States of America, which could very well be true, take an aspirin and comment on his neatly tied shoes. Almost anybody would rather be known for expert shoe-tying than for kicking the cat." She always tells whiners how charming they are--bullies how brave--bad sports how good--sneaks how honest!
- Betty MacDonald
Collection: Sports
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Dare we face the question of just how much of the darkness around us is of our own making?
- Betty MacDonald
Collection: Darkness
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I'll do it because I want to but not because you tell me to!
- Betty MacDonald
Collection: Want
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a grudge will soon rot the pocket you carry it in.
- Betty MacDonald
Collection: Pockets
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In the country, weather is as important as food and sometimes means the difference between life and death.
- Betty MacDonald
Collection: Country
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Our little room was morbidly quiet and sorrow was heaped in my corner like dirty snow.
- Betty MacDonald
Collection: Dirty
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Gammy used to say, 'Too much scrubbing takes the life right out of things.'
- Betty MacDonald
Collection: Too Much