“A fighter can be a winner, but that doesn't make a winner a fighter.”

“It’s a small story really, about, among other things: * A girl * Some words * An accordionist * Some fanatical Germans * A Jewish fist fighter * And quite a lot of thievery”

“I've wandered through the real world, and written myself through the darkness of the streets inside me. I see people walking through the city and wonder where they've been, and what the moments of their lives have done to them. If they're anything like me, their moments have held them up and shot them down.Sometimes I just survive.But sometimes I stand on the rooftop of my existence, arms stretched out, begging for more.That's when the stories show up in me.They find me all the time.They're made of underdogs and fighters. They're made of hunger and desire and trying to live decent.The only trouble is, I don't know which of those stories comes first.Maybe they all just merge into one.We'll see, I guess.I'll let you know when I decide.”

“Handfuls of frosty water can make almost anyone smile, but it cannot make them forget.”

“Make sure you live,' she said. 'As decent as you can. I know you'll make mistakes, but sometimes you're meant to, okay?”

“Death waits for no man - and if he does, he doesn't usually wait for very long.”

“Oh, come on, Arthur.""I don't want to hear it, Andy.""Jesus Christ""He doesn't want to hear it, either.”