There is really nothing more to say - except why. But since why is difficult to handle, one must take refuge in how.

Being good to somebody is just like being mean to somebody. Risky. You don't get nothing for it.

If you take racism away from certain people - I mean, vitriolic racism as well as the sort of social racist - if you take that away, they may have to face something really terrible, misery, self-misery, and deep pain about who they are.

Your life is already artful-waiting, just waiting, for you to make it art.

When am I happy and when am I sad and what is the difference? What do I need to know to stay alive? What is true in the world?

He leans over and takes her hand. With the other he touches her face. ‘You your best thing, Sethe. You are.’ His holding fingers are holding hers. ‘Me? Me?

Certain seeds it will not nurture, certain fruit it will not bear and when the land kills of its own volition, we acquiesce and say the victim had no right to live