“Today is always here,' said Sethe. 'Tomorrow, never.”

“This here Sethe talked about love like any other woman; talked about baby clothes like any other woman, but what she meant could cleave the bone. This here Sethe talked about safety with a handsaw. This here new Sethe didn't know where the world stopped and she began. Suddenly he saw what Stamp Paid wanted him to see: more important than what Sethe had done was what she claimed. It scared him.”

“you got two feet, Sethe, not four." he said, and right then a forest sprang up between them; tactless and quiet.”

“You your best thing, Sethe. You are.”

“You your own best thing, Sethe. You are.”

“The threads of malice creeping toward him from Beloved's side of the table were held harmless in the warmth of Sethe's smile.”

“He said, 'Always. Always.”