How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
It was quarter to five, because he had to be at the mill at half past seven and before then he had to get the cows and help with milking, eat his breakfast, and walk the three miles to the mill. (10.13)
We're yawning just thinking about this. Getting to the mill is hard enough, even without having chores at home before and after work. But you know Tom: he's determined to improve life for himself and his family, so he does it all without complaint. That puts us folks who whine about a 30-minute commute to shame!
Quote #2
He felt near helpless. The storm now had him all to itself, the way a cat has its mouse. Whichever way he moved the wind had hold of him. The thing was not to stop moving. (13.5)
Tom is fighting his way through a dangerous snowstorm while walking home. He knows he better keep moving or he could freeze to death, but it's a metaphor, too: that don't-stop-moving thing applies to any difficult situation. As Dory from Finding Nemo would say, just keep swimming. Hop over to our "Symbolism, Imagery, Allegory" section to see how the snowstorm represents using hard work and skill to persevere through adversity.
Quote #3
Tom could see the barn as if it was already standing in place. Then suddenly it seemed foolish to him to plan it that way, supposing for some reason he couldn't get it. But Birdy said stoutly that if they couldn't get the Breen barn they'd build another like it out of other timbers. (31.2)
This is a nice little lesson from Birdy on perseverance: if things don't go exactly as you originally planned, you don't give up: you just find a different way and keep going. Birdy, Dory—maybe there's some sort of animal connection here?