They were beaten to start with. They were beaten when they took them from their farms and put them in the army. That is why the peasant has wisdom, because he is defeated from the start. Put him in power and see how wise he is.

Go all the way with it. Do not back off. For once, go all the goddamn way with what matters.

You don't have to destroy me. Do you?

Poor Faulkner. Does he really think big emotions come from big words?

Part of you died each year when the leaves fell from the trees and their branches were bare against the wind and the cold, wintry light.

He saw the girl watching him and he smiled at her. It was an old smile that he had been using for fifty years, ever since he first smiled.

Not the why but the what.