“I should no longer define myself as the son of a father who couldn’t or hasn’t or wouldn’t or wasn’t.”

“My next fight would not be measured in rounds, but throughout a lifetime. It would sustain and fulfill me longer than anything in the cage could. My opponent, my fight, would be against the slipping aspects of American society.”

“I didn’t want anybody seeing my fire until I burned them with it.”

“In The Land of Poetry and Fighting, Efficiency rules the throne. I try to live here, so I shave my head because hair is dead and dead is inefficient.”

“In other words, I tasted a different drug. A drug called progress.”

“How can I stand before you in silent symbols with open palms?”

“It was evening and would be when I woke. No matter. From the maple tree the Red-tail spoke.”