Little House on the Prairie (TV Series)

The Craftsman (1979)

John Bleifer: Isaac Singerman

Photos 

Quotes 

• Albert Quinn Ingalls : How come you lit those candles, Mr. Singerman?

  Isaac Singerman : The flame represents God's light. On the Sabbath, we ask God to come into our lives, and illuminate the darkness we live in.

  Albert Quinn Ingalls : Yeah... well, I'm not too sure about God, myself.

  Isaac Singerman : Why? You don't believe in Him?

  Albert Quinn Ingalls : Oh, I believe He's up there, just I've been kind of mad at Him lately.

  Isaac Singerman : Mad at God? Why?

  Albert Quinn Ingalls : Well, because He lets bad things happen.

  Isaac Singerman : Albert, don't blame the Almighty for all the evil men do. God gives us the freedom to choose between good and evil; is it His fault if some people choose to follow the evil?

  Albert Quinn Ingalls : Reckon I never thought of it that way. Some things are so hard to understand.

• Isaac Singerman : [on his deathbed]  Soon, I will be in very good company.

  Albert Quinn Ingalls : It isn't fair.

  Isaac Singerman : It is fair. A man shouldn't be a schnorrer with life, either. I've had many good years; my body is tired, it's enough.

  Albert Quinn Ingalls : But you aren't going to be here anymore.

  Isaac Singerman : Albert, the time I leave behind has nothing to do with me. It isn't mine, just like the time before I was born wasn't mine. Remember I told you if human beings keep asking questions, then there must be answers? Well, now I go where I will find some of those answers, you know. Now, we still have work to do with you.

  Albert Quinn Ingalls : But I want to stay with you.

  Isaac Singerman : No, a craftsman doesn't leave a job half-finished. I'm depending on you, Albert. You must finish our work; it's for a very nice person, remember?

• Albert Quinn Ingalls : [as the pair leave Mr. Brower's house, where Mr. Singerman gave him his cane in exchange for an old bucket]  I don't get it. How come you traded him that great walking stick for this piece of junk?

  Isaac Singerman : [chuckles]  Albert, there's a Jewish word, "rachmones"; in English, it means "compassion". Life without rachmones is not worth living. He's a poor man, he needs a new walking stick.

  Albert Quinn Ingalls : Then why didn't you just give it to him? Why trade it for a rusty old bucket?

  Isaac Singerman : Because our faith says, "When you give charity, you must give so the person receiving the charity feels no shame".

• Isaac Singerman : [planting an acorn to replace the tree which had been cut down for his latest project]  Albert, a craftsman must strive not to be a schnorrer. A schnorrer is someone who takes and takes, and never gives back. God provided us with trees for our livelihood, so we must plant some in return.

  [suddenly clutches his chest] 

  Albert Quinn Ingalls : [concerned]  Mr. Singerman, are you all right?

  Isaac Singerman : Yes, yes. I'll be all right; I'm fine.

  Albert Quinn Ingalls : Are you sure?

  Isaac Singerman : [still wincing with discomfort]  I'm fine, all I need is some rest. You should be getting home now.

  Albert Quinn Ingalls : Maybe I should walk back to your place with you.

  Isaac Singerman : Nonsense. I'm fine, except for the fact that you're standing on my foot!

  Albert Quinn Ingalls : [backs up]  Oh, sorry.

  Isaac Singerman : [smiles]  Go home now. I'll see you tomorrow.

  Albert Quinn Ingalls : Okay. See you tomorrow.

• Isaac Singerman : Time means nothing. Praise means nothing. Competing with others means nothing. What matters is only the task in front of you; you must give it everything. Everything!

• Brower : [thrashing his cane at a boy who just hit him in the head with a ball, eventually breaking the cane while doing so, then grabbing the boy]  I'm gonna thrash you within an inch of your life, you little scamp, you!

  Isaac Singerman : Calm down, Mr. Brower, calm down! What are you getting so excited about?

  Brower : You see what he done? The little varmint made me break my cane!

  Isaac Singerman : So? A new cane, you can always get. But the little boy, you're frightening him!

  Brower : He deserves it! He's got no respect!

  Isaac Singerman : Come on, Mr. Brower. When you were a boy, you never made mischief? Please let him go. Even the Holy Book says, "If you must beat a child, use a string".

  Brower : [pondering what Mr. Singerman has just told him]  All right, this time.

  [releases the boy, who steps on his foot, then runs off, causing him to cry out in pain] 

  Isaac Singerman : [angrily]  Hooligan! Bum! Come back here!

  [to Mr. Brower] 

  Isaac Singerman : You were a hundred percent right!

  Brower : You bet I was!

  Isaac Singerman : [makes a "whipping" gesture]  If you catch that bum again, give him a good crack for me!

• Albert Quinn Ingalls : [admiring Mr. Singerman's chisel]  Boy, I sure could have used that when I was carving.

  Isaac Singerman : [surprised]  You work with wood?

  Albert Quinn Ingalls : Not really, I just whittle some.

  Isaac Singerman : Can I see what you made?

  Albert Quinn Ingalls : [looking slightly embarrassed]  Well... you might laugh.

  Isaac Singerman : Why? Does it tell jokes?

  [both chuckle] 

  Isaac Singerman : Albert, never be ashamed of any work you've done, only of what you haven't done.

• Isaac Singerman : Your face tells me that you either have bad news for me, or you're suffering from indigestion. Which is it?

  Dr. Hiram Baker : Your heart's in very bad shape, Isaac.

  Isaac Singerman : So? This I know for a long time.

  Dr. Hiram Baker : But it's gotten worse. You've got to stop exerting yourself, quit working.

  Isaac Singerman : Quit working? Better I should eat a pork chop!

• Albert Quinn Ingalls : How come we stopped working on the cabinet?

  Isaac Singerman : I just received an urgent order for a new coffin.

  Albert Quinn Ingalls : From the Mercantile?

  Isaac Singerman : No, Dr. Baker is going to lose one of his patients. That's why we bring cut lumber from your father; it will save time. And in this case, time is important.

  Albert Quinn Ingalls : Did the doc say who was dying?

  Isaac Singerman : No, he wouldn't tell me. He only said it is a very wonderful person.