The Old Order Changeth

Over the River (John Galsworthy)

Uncle Adrian on the future:

"'The old order changeth' – yes, but we ought to be able to preserve beauty and dignity, and the sense of service, and manners – things that have come very slowly, and can be made to vanish very fast if we aren't set on preserving them somehow."

Clare on unrequited love

Over the River (John Galsworthy)

"Even when they are not in love, women are grateful for being loved."

Sadly very, very true.

Dinny muses her religion

Maid in Waiting (John Galsworthy)

"Was religion belief in reward? If so, it seemed vulgar."

...and childish...

Theology from Galsworthy's Millie

Maid in Waiting (John Galsworthy)

"And then, if there's a God, why is he called He? It puts me against Him, I know. Callin' God 'He' gets girls treated as they are, I think. ...A he can't get on with creation without a she, anyway."

Wise words from a girl from the slums who was once suspected of prostitution.

England in 3400 AD

Swan Song (John Galsworthy)

Soames goes to Dorking to see the old family homestead, the origination of the modern Forsytes, and reflects upon the future:

"He had read somewhere that people would live underground, and come up to take the air in their flying machines on Sundays."

And it continues...

"People that wrote those prophetic articles were always forgetting that people had passions. He would make a bet that the passions of the English in 3400 A.D. would still be: playing golf, cursing the weather, sitting in draughts, and revising the prayer-book."

Michael Mont on perfect marital harmony

Swan Song (John Galsworthy)

Michael reflects on his relationship with his wife, Fleur: "Fleur and he were on such perfect terms that they had no real knowledge of each other's thoughts."

Ignorance is bliss?

Soames on America

Swan Song (John Galsworthy)

Soames Forsyte visits New York and his impression is essentially favorable, except for one thing:

"Of course the place was full of Americans, but that was unavoidable."