Johnny Tremain

by

Esther Forbes

Teachers and parents! Our Teacher Edition on Johnny Tremain makes teaching easy.
Dr. Warren is a prominent figure in the Boston Observers and in the resistance movement against the British. He’s a young, kind man. Although Johnny likes him, Johnny is inadvertently rude to Dr. Warren due to his shame surrounding his burned hand. Dr. Warren doesn’t hold this against Johnny, however, and the two form a trusting relationship over the course of the novel. Paul Revere and Dr. Warren are the last two Observers to leave Boston, so Johnny spends the days and nights before and during the battles at Lexington and Concord spying for Dr. Warren. Later, when Johnny meets up with Dr. Warren to relay information to him at Lexington, Dr. Warren insists on seeing Johnny’s hand—and offers to perform surgery on it to free Johnny’s thumb, thereby enabling Johnny to hold a musket.

Dr. Warren Quotes in Johnny Tremain

The Johnny Tremain quotes below are all either spoken by Dr. Warren or refer to Dr. Warren. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Coming of Age Theme Icon
).
Chapter 6 Quotes

‘You don’t want me to look at it?’

As long as it might take to count ten, there was complete silence. Then the boy said, ‘No, sir—thank you.’

‘Was it God’s will it should be so?’ Doctor Warren meant was it crippled from birth. If so, it would be harder for him to help.

‘Yes,’ said Johnny, thinking of how had ruined it upon a Lord’s Day.

‘God’s will be done,’ said the young doctor.

Related Characters: Johnny Tremain (speaker), Dr. Warren (speaker)
Related Symbols: Johnny’s Burnt Hand
Page Number: 134
Explanation and Analysis:

He thought of Doctor Warren. Oh, why had he not let him see his hand? Cilla, waiting and waiting for him at North Square—and then he got there only about when it pleased him. He loved Cilla. She and Rab were the best friends he had ever had. Why was he mean to her? He couldn’t think.

Related Characters: Johnny Tremain, Rab, Cilla Lapham, Dr. Warren
Related Symbols: Johnny’s Burnt Hand
Page Number: 140
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 8 Quotes

‘…For men and women and children all over the world,’ he said. ‘You were right, you tall, dark boy, for even as we shoot down the British soldiers we are fighting for rights such as they will be enjoying a hundred years from now.

‘…There shall be no more tyranny. A handful of men cannot seize power over thousands. A man shall choose who it is shall rule over him.

‘…The peasants of France, the serfs of Russia. Hardly more than animals now. But because we fight, they shall see freedom like a new sun rising in the west. Those natural rights God has given to every man, no matter how humble…’

Related Characters: James Otis (speaker), Johnny Tremain, Rab, Dr. Warren, Samuel Adams
Page Number: 209
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 12 Quotes

‘I’ll never forget it. He said… so a man can stand up.’

‘Yes. And some of us would die—so other men can stand up on their feet like men. A great many are going to die for that. They have in the past. They will a hundred years from now—two hundred. God grant there will always be men good enough. Men like Rab.’

Related Characters: Johnny Tremain (speaker), Dr. Warren (speaker), Rab, James Otis
Related Symbols: Rab’s Musket
Page Number: 297
Explanation and Analysis:

‘Will it be good enough to hold this gun?’

‘I think I can promise you that.’

‘The silver can wait. When can you, Doctor Warren? I’ve got the courage.’

‘I’ll get some of those men in the taproom to hold your arm still while I operate.’

‘No need. I can hold it still myself.’

The Doctor looked at him with compassionate eyes.

‘Yes, I believe you can. You go walk about in the fresh air, while I get my instruments ready.’

Related Characters: Johnny Tremain (speaker), Dr. Warren (speaker), Rab, James Otis
Related Symbols: Rab’s Musket, Johnny’s Burnt Hand
Page Number: 297
Explanation and Analysis:
Get the entire Johnny Tremain LitChart as a printable PDF.
Johnny Tremain PDF

Dr. Warren Quotes in Johnny Tremain

The Johnny Tremain quotes below are all either spoken by Dr. Warren or refer to Dr. Warren. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Coming of Age Theme Icon
).
Chapter 6 Quotes

‘You don’t want me to look at it?’

As long as it might take to count ten, there was complete silence. Then the boy said, ‘No, sir—thank you.’

‘Was it God’s will it should be so?’ Doctor Warren meant was it crippled from birth. If so, it would be harder for him to help.

‘Yes,’ said Johnny, thinking of how had ruined it upon a Lord’s Day.

‘God’s will be done,’ said the young doctor.

Related Characters: Johnny Tremain (speaker), Dr. Warren (speaker)
Related Symbols: Johnny’s Burnt Hand
Page Number: 134
Explanation and Analysis:

He thought of Doctor Warren. Oh, why had he not let him see his hand? Cilla, waiting and waiting for him at North Square—and then he got there only about when it pleased him. He loved Cilla. She and Rab were the best friends he had ever had. Why was he mean to her? He couldn’t think.

Related Characters: Johnny Tremain, Rab, Cilla Lapham, Dr. Warren
Related Symbols: Johnny’s Burnt Hand
Page Number: 140
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 8 Quotes

‘…For men and women and children all over the world,’ he said. ‘You were right, you tall, dark boy, for even as we shoot down the British soldiers we are fighting for rights such as they will be enjoying a hundred years from now.

‘…There shall be no more tyranny. A handful of men cannot seize power over thousands. A man shall choose who it is shall rule over him.

‘…The peasants of France, the serfs of Russia. Hardly more than animals now. But because we fight, they shall see freedom like a new sun rising in the west. Those natural rights God has given to every man, no matter how humble…’

Related Characters: James Otis (speaker), Johnny Tremain, Rab, Dr. Warren, Samuel Adams
Page Number: 209
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 12 Quotes

‘I’ll never forget it. He said… so a man can stand up.’

‘Yes. And some of us would die—so other men can stand up on their feet like men. A great many are going to die for that. They have in the past. They will a hundred years from now—two hundred. God grant there will always be men good enough. Men like Rab.’

Related Characters: Johnny Tremain (speaker), Dr. Warren (speaker), Rab, James Otis
Related Symbols: Rab’s Musket
Page Number: 297
Explanation and Analysis:

‘Will it be good enough to hold this gun?’

‘I think I can promise you that.’

‘The silver can wait. When can you, Doctor Warren? I’ve got the courage.’

‘I’ll get some of those men in the taproom to hold your arm still while I operate.’

‘No need. I can hold it still myself.’

The Doctor looked at him with compassionate eyes.

‘Yes, I believe you can. You go walk about in the fresh air, while I get my instruments ready.’

Related Characters: Johnny Tremain (speaker), Dr. Warren (speaker), Rab, James Otis
Related Symbols: Rab’s Musket, Johnny’s Burnt Hand
Page Number: 297
Explanation and Analysis: