“Menfolks listens to somebody because of what he says. Women don't. They don't care what he said. They listens because of what he is.”

“Don't listen to what I'm saying. Listen to what I'm listening to.”

“So many people, he thought, don't listen to the content of what you say but only to the noises you make.”

“Men don't rape women because their women are ugly," cousin Jostien said, but there was a protest at his words. "That's what my fa said! He says that inside their hearts and spirits they are nothing but little men who need to feel powerful.”

“He didn't say a lot so I tend to remember what he did say. And I don't remember that he had a lot of patience with havin to say things twice so I learned to listen the first time.”

“Don't you understand? Listen carefully to what I'm saying. If you do, you'll get it. you can grasp this easily. In short...in short, I shut myself in because I'm lonely. Because I don't want to face any more loneliness, I shut myself away.”