Afterword to his short story "The Children's Story" (1963).
The Children's Story (1982)
Context: I asked all kinds of people of every age, "You know the 'I pledge allegiance…'" but before I could finish, at once they would all parrot it, the words almost always equally blurred. In every case discovered that not one teacher, ever — or anyone — had ever explained the words to any one of them. Everyone just had to learn it to say it. The Children's Story came into being that day. It was then that I realized how completely vulnerable my child's mind was — any mind for that matter — under controlled circumstances. Normally I write and rewrite and re-rewrite, but this story came quickly — almost by itself. Barely three words were changed. It pleases me greatly because it keeps asking me questions … Questions like what's the use of "I pledge allegiance" without understanding? Like why is it so easy to divert thoughts and implant others? Like what is freedom and why is it so hard to explain? The Children's Story keeps asking me all sorts of questions I cannot answer. Perhaps you can — then your children will…
“After seeing Orphan, I now realize that Damien of The Omen was a model child. The Demon Seed was a bumper crop. Rosemary would have been happy to have this baby.
Do not, under any circumstances, take children to see it. Take my word on this.”
Review http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/orphan-2009 of Orphan (22 July 2009)
Reviews, Three-and-a-half star reviews
Help us to complete the source, original and additional information
Roger Ebert 264
American film critic, author, journalist, and TV presenter 1942–2013Related quotes
“When you see reference to a new paradigm you should always, under all circumstances, take cover.”
As quoted in "Galbraith on crashes, Japan and Walking Sticks" by Ben Laurance and William Keegan, in The Observer (21 June 1998)
Context: When you see reference to a new paradigm you should always, under all circumstances, take cover. Because ever since the great tulipmania in 1637, speculation has always been covered by a new paradigm. There was never a paradigm so new and so wonderful as the one that covered John Law and the South Sea Bubble — until the day of disaster.
“My children are so rarely happy. I… I would like to see you be an exception.”
Source: The Blood of Olympus
“I have not much pride under such circumstances: I would always rather be happy than dignified.”
Source: Jane Eyre (1847), Ch. 34
“As soon as you know you want a child, you have a baby fever when you see a cute baby.”
Source: https://amp/s/www.pulse.ng/entertainment/music/simi-speaks-with-pulse-nigeria-interview/wjmypg8.amp Simi during an Interview with Pulse Nigeria
Cleaning Windows
Song lyrics, Beautiful Vision (1982)