Goodbye, Columbus Language and Communication Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Part.Paragraph)

Quote #7

"He ain't got the stomach for business. He's an idealist," and then I think Mr. Patimkin suddenly realized who I was, and eagerly corrected himself so as not to offend. (6.249)

Mr. Patimkin had been talking about Ron and how his college education wasn't helping him at Patimkin Sinks. He realizes Neil, too, has gone to college and is possibly an idealist. This shows that he's more sensitive to others than he appears.

Quote #8

[From Mr. Patimkin's letter] "I love you honey if you want a coat I'll buy You a coat." (8.133)

Mr. Patimkin might have bad grammar, but he loves his daughter and is sensitive toward her. His chief way of expressing that love is through buying her things, but he's also kind and loving to her in general. Still, Neil and Mrs. Patimkin might argue that he's keeping her from being independent by spoiling her.

Quote #9

And we heard the tense in which we'd spoken and we settled back into ourselves and silence. (8.252)

They both used the word "loved" instead of love. At least for them, there is no turning back from such utterances. Once love is past tense, it can't be made present again, and so ends the romance, but not the memories. Also, notice how silence is a form of communication here—what are they, psychic?