“... my aim in writing The Watch That Ends the Night was not to present history. My aim was to present humanity. The people represented in this book lived and breathed and loved. They were as real as you or me. They could have been any one of us.”

“Thank God (my wife) and I were both born poorso the concept of fidelity was allowed to take root in us.”

“Some folks is meant to make excuses. Some folks is meant to make history.”

“Thank you. You're a kind person. It doesn't cost anything to be kind. People forget. Kindness doesn't cost a dime.”

“Life unravels as it's lived. It can't be woven back together.”

“Ha. If given a choice of dodging a bullet or stepping in its way, I'll choose dodging when I can. Anyway, to face death, you only need a dram of courage. To face life you need a good deal more.”

“You want coffees with your Happy Meals?Yes, we want coffee with our Happy Meals. It makes them more happy.”