In Still Life, Louise Penny introduces Inspector Armand Gamache of the Surêté du Québec for the very first time. If it’s been awhile since you’ve read the first book in the series, we invite you to refresh your memory of the novel with our Re-Read lead by Lesa Holstine. You can also learn more about the real-life inspirations behind the settings and cultural references in the book, try a recipe the characters enjoy in Still Life, and explore more of all things Still Life here at GamacheSeries.com.
“They are four sentences we learn to say, and mean.” Gamache held up his hand as a fist and raised a finger with each point. “I don’t know. I need help. I’m sorry. I was wrong.” Is there a set of rules you live by? Let us know in the comments!
141 replies on “The Wisdom of Armand Gamache: Still Life”
My parents taught me to always take responsibility for my actions. Gamache’s 4 statements fit right into this.
You have no idea what it took for that person to be here in this place today. Your smile might be the only one they see today. We are all part of the same family.
So true. Never more important than to people who are often disregarded, people with different kinds of disabilities, or just the very old… Give two seconds of your time and heart, look them in the eyes with a warm smile, that will tell them “I see you, I respect you, I wish you well”.
Among the many things my mother said was “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all.”
Gamache’s 4 sentences are ones of vulnerability. They are particularly unusual coming from a police officer. These are the heart of why his enemies thought he was weak. Embracing them are what makes him strong.
“Stop… Breathe… Think”
– Blue’s Clues
🙂
Scheming and dreaming is good…making emotional decisions is bad.
What separates us from lower forms, but mainly zooms us with a fire-in-the-belly motivation, is our sense of Wonder.
Pursue it recklessly – down every rabbit hole, to the edge of the Universe.
😊
“Stop… Breathe… Think”
– Blue’s Clues
🙂
Start where you are. Use what you have. Do the best you can.
Treat everyone the way you want to be treated.
Everyone has a story.
How true and we rarely find out what that story is
If you think you’re wrong; you are
Very true saying it’s what my mum always taught me
I do need help-all the time! 🤗
Me too! I am glad l have good friends
If you’re on the road, you will miss the journey.
It’s important to stop and look around
Is this any of my business? It helps keep trouble out of your life!
Stay humble. Try your best. Ask questions. Accept help with gratitude. Say thank you.
Yeah, staying humble is important ,trying your best and accepting help
“Your Sins Will Find You Out”
You never know what goes on behind closed doors.
“Your Sins Will Find You Out”
I always tell my friends to read Louise Pennys books I tell them they are mysteries but with substance This quote is a good examole I think her books beat out self help books for ideas to ponder or follow May she never stop writing
Absolutely! I recommend her often for the same reason. There’s so much more to them than “just a mystery.”
From my dad to me when I was six years old: Don’t talk to brick walls. They won’t answer and you’ll look like an idiot. (That got me through a Ph.D.)
So similar to the 4-Way Test in Rotary:
Is it the truth?
Is it fair to all concerned?
Will it build better friendships?
Is it beneficial to all concerned?
I would love to see this guiding wisdom where I could recall some of the quotes that I often had trouble remembering
I would write them down when I heard them so that I could use them on a daily basis, they became a mantra for walking through the day with more humanity
Me too!
I really appreciate Don Miguel Ruiz as he writes: be impeccable with your word; don’t take anything personally; don’t make assumptions, and always do your best. I have used these words of wisdom many times. And shared with many people as well.
So true! So many lessons to live by in LP’s books. 🫶🏻
I was disappointed to see very few male comments. To me, Armond is a rolemodel to everyone. Those four short statements are the key to real leadership and seemingly lacking in the present time.
The men I know, don’t read!
The men I know mostly read nonfiction 😁
As a man who reads and also makes a lot of mistakes I have
found this quote very helpful.
Be kind. Be humble. Be strong. Be fair.
It is a good quote and one that leaders (whether male or female) would benefit from.
I agree, these are excellent stories that many men would enjoy, I certainly do. I have recommended these books to several of my male friends. I think Louise’s commitment to writing engaging characters, problems and action makes them appealing to a wide audience; the novels are a great demonstration of how storytelling can be engaging, not introspective, and be all the more profound.
I have taken these four ‘things’ and applied them to my own life and work and the ‘ is it kind, does it need saying’ I find is also a positive mantra. I enjoy and embrace the wisdom in each of the Gamache books- I look forward to each one with anticipation and am always Surprised by joy!
I can’t wait to read it. What a joy that there is a new one.
Choose joy and be prepared to be “surprised by joy!”
Be Kind is my motto. Others may be going through something that we have no idea of.