Jack London quote about kindness from Martin Eden - You noticed that her eyes were what I might call hard. She has never been sheltered. She has had to take care of herself, and a young girl can't take care of herself and keep her eyes soft and gentle like—like yours, for example.
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You noticed that her eyes were what I might call hard. She has never been sheltered. She has had to take care of herself, and a young girl can't take care of herself and keep her eyes soft and gentle like—like yours, for example.
 Jack London, Martin Eden (1909). copy citation

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Author Jack London
Source Martin Eden
Topic kindness hardness
Date 1909
Language English
Reference
Note
Weblink http://www.gutenberg.org/files/1056/1056-h/1056-h.htm

Context

“Why am I rolling all about the shop? Because of the years I put in on the sea. If I'd put in the same years cow-punching, with my body young and pliable, I wouldn't be rolling now, but I'd be bow-legged. And so with that girl. You noticed that her eyes were what I might call hard. She has never been sheltered. She has had to take care of herself, and a young girl can't take care of herself and keep her eyes soft and gentle like—like yours, for example.»
«I think you are right,» Ruth said in a low voice. «And it is too bad. She is such a pretty girl.»
He looked at her and saw her eyes luminous with pity. And then he remembered that he loved her and was lost in amazement at his fortune that permitted him to love her and to take her on his arm to a lecture.” source

Meaning and analysis

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