“If a man's at odds to know his own mind it's because he hasn't got aught but his mind to know it with.”

“It's a mystery. A man's at odds to know his mind cause his mind is aught he has to know it with. He can know his heart, but he dont want to. Rightly so. Best not to look in there. It aint the heart of a creature that is bound in the way that God has set for it. You can find meanness in the least of creatures, but when God made man the devil was at his elbow. A creature that can do anything. Make a machine. And a machine to make the machine. And evil that can run itself a thousand years, no need to tend it.”

“A man's at odds to know his mind cause his mind is aught he has to know it with. He can know his heart, but he dont want to. Rightly so. Best not to look in there. It aint the heart of a creature that is bound in the way that God has set for it. You can find meanness in the least of creatures, but when God made man the devil was at his elbow. A creature that can do anything. Make a machine. And a machine to make the machine. And evil that can run itself a thousand years, no need to tend it.”

“He believed in God even if he was doubtful of men's claims to know God's mind. But that a God unable to forgive was no God at all.”

“Deep in each man is the knowledge that something knows of his existence. Something knows, and cannot be fled nor hid from.”

“They sat on a bench and Sproule held his wounded arm to his chest and rocked back and forth and blinked in the sun. What do you want to do? said the kid.Get a drink of water.Other than that.I dont know.You want to try and head back?To Texas?I don't know where else.We'd never make it.Well you say.I aint got no say.He was coughing again. He held his chest with his good hand and sat as if he'd get his breath. What have you got, a cold?I got consumption.Consumption?He nodded. I come out here for my health.”

“I got no use for a man piss backwards on his friends.”