Introduction
In the books about Doctor Dolittle, apart from the description of adventures, we come across golden thoughts. These are sublime thoughts about the meaning and purpose of life. Below there are some examples.
Examples of golden thoughts in the Doctor Dolittle books
In The Story of Doctor Dolittle (1920), chapter 18 “Smells”:
[Pig speaking to a dog]
“Yes, it’s a poor wind, that,” said Gub–Gub. “I think you’re a fake, Jip. Who ever heard of finding a man in the middle of the ocean just by smell! I told you you couldn’t do it.”
“Look here,” said Jip, getting really angry. “You’re going to get a bite on the nose in a minute! You needn’t think that just because the Doctor won’t let us give you what you deserve, that you can be as cheeky as you like!”
“Stop quarreling!” said the Doctor—”Stop it! Life’s too short.“
In Doctor Dolittle’s Circus (1924), part V, chapter 1 “Mr. Bellamy from Manchester”:
[Gub-Gub to a Doctor’s party]
“It doesn’t matter what time we get up. Let us stay a little longer. We have to settle on what play we are going to give.”
“No, you don’t,” said Dab-Dab–“not to-night. The Doctor’s tired.”
“No, I’m not tired,” said John Dolittle.
“Well, it’s bad for them to stay up late. There’s nothing like early bed as a habit.”
“Yes, I suppose so,” said the Doctor. “But myself, I don’t like getting into habits, you know.”
“Well, I do,” said Dab-Dab–“when they’re good ones. I like regular people.”
“Do you, Dab-Dab? That’s why you’re such an excellent housekeeper. There are two kinds of people: those who like habits and those who don’t. They both have their
good qualities.”
“You know, Doctor,” Gub-Gub put in, “me–I always divide people into the pickle-eaters and the plain feeders–those who like chutneys and sauces on their food and those who like everything plain.”
“It’s the same idea, Gub-Gub,” the Doctor laughed.
“Those that like change in their lives and those that like sameness. Your chutney-eaters are the change-lovers and your plain-fooders are the er–housekeepers. Myself, I hope to grow more adaptable as I grow older.”
Summary
There are more golden thoughts. And above all, the various adventures of the doctor have a moral, which is the element that shapes good young recipients.