It was not his habit to dwell on what could have been, but what could never be.

For mines are for men, not for money. And money is not something to go mad about, and throw your hat into the air for. Money is for food and clothes and comfort, and a visit to the pictures. Money is to make happy the lives of children. Money is for security, and for dreams, and for hopes, and for purposes. Money is for buying the fruits of the earth, of the land where you were born.

But when the dawn will come, of our emancipation, from the fear of bondage and the bondage of fear, why, that is a secret.

For who can stop the heart from breaking?

All roads lead to Johannesburg.

Sorrow is better than fear. Fear is a journey, a terrible journey. But, sorrow is at least an arriving.

If you wrote a novel in South Africa which didn't concern the central issues, it wouldn't be worth publishing.