How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
"How do you know Mamma will give them a cookie?" I asked.
"She has to," Tom said confidently, "because she gave all the other kids a cookie." (1.59-60)
Poor Mamma is part of Tom's scheme, and she doesn't even know it. Tom definitely knows how to use someone else's goodwill to his own advantage.
Quote #2
"You don't have to open the crates right in the middle of main street," Papa said.
"Rules and regulations say I've got to inspect the merchandise for damage," Mr. Larson said.
"You know very well, Nels," Papa said testily, "the only time you ever inspect anything is when the shipment is for me."
"Ain't nothing interesting in the others," Mr. Larson said. (1.76-79)
Mr. Larson uses the law, Tom-style, here, purporting to do good while satisfying his own interests. He wants to check out the new water closet, so he defends his nosiness by appealing to authority.
Quote #3
I lay awake putting my little brain to work. If Tom knew how I could get the mumps first, there must be a way. I thought and I thought and I thought about it. When Sweyn or Tom got a disease, Mamma made sure I caught it by putting me into bed with them. That was why they quarantined people who had contagious diseases—so they couldn't give the disease to anybody else. Now, if there was just some way for me to sneak into Howard Kay's house and get him to infect me with the mumps, I'd have the last laugh on Tom and Sweyn. My little brain had done it! I felt like jumping out of bed and dancing round the room. (2.38)
Yeah, real smooth idea, J.D. Maybe there's a reason Tom's the one called "the Great Brain"—he definitely busts it out to retaliate against J.D. for giving him the mumps.
Quote #4
"Crazy like a fox," I said, sitting on the edge of the bed and grinning triumphantly at my brothers. "Maybe I've only got a little brain, but I figured out how to get a disease first for a change. I sneaked into Howard Kay's house while he had the mumps and got him to expose me." (2.94)
It's hilarious that J.D. feels like he really got one over on his brothers. But then again, maybe he did—maybe this is exactly what he wanted. If it feels like victory, who are we to judge?
Quote #5
I followed Tom out to our backyard because I knew what he was going to do. His great brain had long ago figured out a way to eavesdrop on anybody in our parlor. We were without doubt the best-informed kids in town on things parents didn't want their children to hear. (3.116)
It's called "eavesdropping" because you hang out under the eaves while your parents drop sweet nuggets of information. Boom.
Quote #6
I watched him as he walked toward the back porch, leaving me alone to make the decision. He hadn't tried to bribe me or blackmail me. With his great brain I knew he could have influenced me, but he didn't even try. He had treated me as an equal and left the decision strictly up to me. Acting strictly on my own, I decided not to tell Mamma or Sweyn. (4.50)
It's kind of sweet of Tom to let J.D. think he makes these decisions for himself… Or is it just manipulative? Either way, Tom's mission is totally accomplished and J.D. keeps quiet.
Quote #7
Poor Mr. Kokovinis, I thought to myself, you had better watch out or my brother and his great brain will take your cafe away from you. (5.57-58)
We feel like there's a real missed opportunity in the book here. Wouldn't it be great if Tom got his own cafe to run? How many different ways would he find to charge customers?
Quote #8
Then began the greatest swindle in pantomime in Adenville's history. Tom took twenty of his agate marbles and one flint taw and put them in an empty tobacco sack. He handed the sack to Basil and helped himself to another ten cents. The one-sided trading continued until Tom had gotten rid of all his old junk and had all but ten cents of the dollar Mr. Kokovinis had given Basil. (5.66)
Tom sells all his old stuff to Basil instead of taking Basil shopping for new things. He argues that he's doing Basil a favor. What do you think? Do you agree with Tom or J.D.?
Quote #9
"You can't paddle me for something I didn't do," Tom said, glaring at the teacher.
"But I can paddle you for not telling me who did it." Mr. Standish had an answer for everything. (7.45-46)
Let's all just take a moment to appreciate that it used to be okay, and even encouraged, for teachers to physically beat students who misbehaved. Can you even imagine? No thank you.
Quote #10
Tom was rubbing his hands gleefully as we left the schoolhouse. "I told you I would make Mr. Standish rue the day he paddled me," he chuckled. "He was a fool to go up against my great brain." (7.145)
The Great Brain almost meets his match in Mr. Standish, but he thoroughly succeeds in getting Mr. Standish fired, so go ahead and give Tom another point. Dude is so good at getting what he wants.