How we cite our quotes: All quotations are from Mary Poppins.
Quote #7
BERT: You've got to grind, grind, grind at that grindstone... Though childhood slips like sand through a sieve... And all too soon they've up and grown, and then they've flown... And it's too late for you to give - just that spoonful of sugar to 'elp the medicine go down - medicine go dow-wown, medicine go down.
Bert is holding up a mirror to Mr. Banks face (metaphorically) and saying, "Hey, this is what you're doing. And it's not so great." Banks is obsessed with his job, and acting like he's a strict disciplinarian—denying the softie that lies underneath. Bert's helping to show him the light, with some harsh truth-telling.
Quote #8
DAWES JR.: In 1773, an official of this bank unwisely loaned a large sum of money to finance a shipment of tea to the American colonies. Do you know what happened?
GEORGE: Yes, sir. Yes, I think I do. As the ship lay anchored in Boston Harbor, a party of the colonists dressed as red Indians boarded the vessel, behaved very rudely, and threw all the tea overboard. This made the tea unsuitable for drinking. Even for Americans.
George is on the verge of getting fired—and at the same time, his inner, fun-loving side is starting to peek out. George always thought losing his job would be terrible, but instead, he finds himself making a joke about how Americans can't appreciate the correct way to make tea.
Quote #9
DAWES SR.: From that time to this, sir, there has not been a run on this bank—until today. A run, sir, caused by the disgraceful conduct of your son. Do you deny it?
GEORGE: I do not deny it, sir, and I shall gladly assume responsibility for my son.
George "gladly" assumes responsibility for his son. He's not trying to excuse himself or anything—he's biting the bullet and accepting his family for who they are, finally (or he's getting close). And this makes him happy rather than miserable.