Tuesday, October 19, 2010

"Different Methods"

'Men and women can't do housework together without quarrelling. Different methods, my dear. Men can't help in a job, you know. They can be induced to do it: not to help while you're doing it. At least, it makes them grumpy.'

'The cardinal difficulty,' said MacPhee, 'in collaboration between the sexes is that women speak a language without nouns. If two men are doing a bit of work, one will say to the other, "Put this bowl inside the bigger bowl which you'll find on the top shelf of the green cupboard." The female for this is, "Put that in the other one there." And then if you ask them, "In where?" they say, "in there, of course."'

--C.S. Lewis, That Hideous Strength

29 comments:

Serena said...

When I first read this several years ago, I laughed and laughed, and then I put it in my quote book. It is so wonderful. :)

Anna said...

When Daisy was three she famously asked, 'What's the thing in the thingie thing?"

Dinahsoar said...

Truth! I know firsthand.

Sonja said...

I love this! And just last night, hubby joined me for the first time in drying the dishes while I washed (we just ditched the dishwasher recently). It was quite interesting! Mr. Lewis sums it up nicely. :)

Matushka Anna said...

Oh I LOVE this book! And this is only one of many things in the book that is so TRUE. I laughed and laughed the first time I read it. (c;

Gombojav Tribe said...

That's the best thing I've read all day! Perfect!

Maggie May said...

i love CS

Jenny said...

Great quote, I love it! :)

The Hojnackes said...

I definitely speak without nouns! My husband agrees.

Sarah said...

That's so true, isn't it! :-D

Sarah said...

One of our favorite quotes, from one of our favorite books by one of our favorite authors!

Rebecca said...

Oh, Lewis! He's spot-on about most subjects. This is brilliant and not something I'd yet encountered. Thanks, Anna!

Kelly said...

Gotta say, the man knew what he was talking about. One might wonder if he spends some time in my kitchen...

Lisa said...

Now I'm going to be wondering if I talk like that or not. I hope not!
As for the first paragraph - I think I should make a point of remembering it - because when someone does a thing they feel induced to do, they are not doing it properly, or with the right attitude; and that's why I will try to do things myself! (right or wrong)

Lisateresa
I've read very little of his work, but I guess I'll have to remedy that.

Julian said...

oh how true!
thanks,christina

Beth said...

Oh, I do this sometimes, though I know some men who do it too. It makes me think of people who navigate by landmarks vs. street names. Never plan a road trip and expect to share the driving and navigation duties if you've got a mixed group there!

Kathryn said...

and every female in the room would have probably known exactly what Daisy meant too! This made my day, love the quote!

Unknown said...

I just did that to my son the other night!! (Hubbs is on a deployment) He looked at me and said What? Then we all started laughing.
Thanks for sharing.
Paula

Janel said...

lol I love that!

With a husband and 3 sons, my daughter is the only one in the house that understands me. She speaks female. : )

Sarah said...

Okay, so it's not just me!

Anonymous said...

Lewis often infuriates me-- I'm not at all a fan of That Hideous Strnegth, for instance. But he certainly nails it in the passage you quoted! :-)

Miss Mary said...

hahahahaaaaa! Too true! I am famous for my lack of nouns. Thank you for the quote. It is going on the fridge, pronto. Now, I am off to find the book in the library.

Margo said...

ha! both my kids refer to objects as "thingies"! I've also noticed that since I'm over thirty and a mother, I seem to have fewer nouns that I can remember when I want them.
I should try to read this book again. Last time I tried, I was in high school.

Erin said...

HA! So true.

Rebekah said...

How have I never heard of this C.S. Lewis book? Shocking.

The B's said...

Mr. Lewis is brilliant. I love this!

holly said...

I am SO glad you're "back" - Daily Inspiration!

Beloved's Redheaded Bride said...

It gave me a laugh! Love CS Lewis.

Hana - Marmota said...

Terrifyingly, I find myself speaking more and more like that - I used not to, but now I'm constantly searching for words and saying "to" and "tamto" a "víš co" (In Czech: "it" and "that" and "you know what")... Paradoxically, it happens more now that I know more and more languages! I wonder if it has something to do with it... not being able to find the word I'm looking for in either of them, because it's all mixed up in my mind.

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