This Boy's Life Rules and Order Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #4

"My mother had faith in me. She didn't have faith in discipline. Her father, Daddy, had given her plenty, and she had yet to see the profit from it." (7.6)

From parents to children: Jack's mom doesn't much like rules either. That might explain why she can't put any down for Jack to believe in.

Quote #5

"I liked all these numbers and lists because they offered the clear possibility of mastery." (11.28)

The irony of Jack's life is that, while he embraces the chaos of it, he really wants it all to make sense. The Boy Scouts offer that to him, with their lists and regulations and neat ranks of merit badges and whatnot. Like a lot of things in Jack's life, it doesn't turn out that way, but what are ya gonna do? Also, take note of the fact that mastering Scouting seems to confer to perceived power on Jack. And Jack desperately wants a little power.

Quote #6

"They lost the competition, disqualified for wearing nonregulation caps and boots." (18.28)

Arbitrary technicalities? We got 'em! Moments like these really seem to get to Jack because they demonstrate how rules and regulations don't translate into justice.