“But if we grow stronger...and rise higher than what's pullin' us down...Yes, rise higher than dirt...that fifty pound weight will lift and you'll be free, free without anybody's by-your-leave. Do something to wash out the sin.”

“Everybody's got some sin, but if it troubles your heart you're a gentle sinner, just a good soul gone wrong.”

“That's sin, [...] leavin' on a lie.”

“One day I almost said it . . . after goin over the words in my mind, "Benjie, the greatest thing in the world is to love someone and they love you too." But when I opened my mouth, I said, "Benjie, brush the crumbs off your jacket.”

“Schoolteachers can be some hard-eyed people, with talkin eyes; they mouth sayin one thing and them eyes be screamin another.”

“Gawd might forgive but people never will.”

“Two things a man can give the woman he loves...his name and his protection...”