... ducks and geese are foolish things, and must be looked after, but girls can take care of themselves

... ducks and geese are foolish things, and must be looked after, but girls can take care of themselves

Washington Irving was an American author known for his humorous and satirical writing style. In his works, he often portrayed characters who were naive or foolish, such as the ducks and geese mentioned in the quote, "ducks and geese are foolish things, and must be looked after, but girls can take care of themselves."