The Story of Ruth (1960)

Peggy Wood: Naomi

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Quotes 

• Ruth : [sobbing]  He taught me to care about living things, but he never told me of the pain of caring.

  Naomi : Pain on entering the world, anguish on leaving it. But the interval between is worth it all.

  Ruth : [still sobbing]  How can you say that in such an hour? Look around you, at this hard wilderness, and what do you see but mourning women? Where is Mahlon's invisible God of mercy? Where are his blessings?

  Naomi : You are one of them. You gave my son joy, and you sent him away with peace in his soul. I am grateful, my lady.

• Naomi : Not even a scrap to eat. My husband had two kinsmen here, Boaz and Tob, both men of means. Tob would only rebuff me. My husband was unkind to him. And as for Boaz...

  Ruth : What about Boaz?

  Naomi : It pains me to tell you, but he was the man at the border.

  Ruth : The one who forced the Moabite to drink. Then don't go to either of them, Mother.

  Naomi : But how will we live?

  Ruth : That woman by the well. If she can get along by gleaning, then so can we.

  Naomi : You? You, glean?

  Ruth : They'll let me glean.

  Naomi : Oh, it's not a question of letting. The law gives widows and poor folk the right to glean, but I wouldn't let you.

  Ruth : Widows and the poor? Then I'm entitled twice over.