“In fact, Harold had never once paid attention to his watch other than to find out the time. And, honestly, it drove his watch crazy.”

“He never wears a watch (his own rebellion against time, against watching).”

“This is the story of two men who met in a banana republic. One of them never did anything dishonest in his life except for one crazy minute. The other never did anything honest in his life except for one crazy minute. ”

“Watch out he's winding the watch of his wit, by and by it will strike.”

“He realized that he agonized over everything all the time, and he admitted that part of the problem in the Carter game had been his own lack of belief in his abilities. He knew the reason why he was like this, that it was the price he paid for carefully watching out for himself ever since he had been a little boy. 'I've never taken a chance in life,' he said. 'I need to run in front of traffic bucknacked and get arrested.”

“Norah watched him, serious and utterly absorbed in his task, overcome by the simple fact of his existence.”