David Adams Richards > Quotes

“There is no worse flaw in man's character than that of wanting to belong.”
― David Adams Richards, Mercy Among the Children: A Novel

“What should I get from books?” Alcide asked in French.

That you are not alone — even along this broken tractor road. You need to know nothing else,” my father answered in French.”
― David Adams Richards, Mercy Among the Children: A Novel

“Now the end is going to come - in one fashion or another", Bines said, softly, and again he turned to Ralphie and smiled. "We all know, the end will come. You either face your hunters or run from them.”
― David Adams Richards, For Those Who Hunt the Wounded Down

“[...]no one can do an injury to you without doing an injury to themselves.”
― David Adams Richards, Mercy Among the Children: A Novel

“Those who scorn you taunt only themselves -- I knew this without reading one word; because in reading one is reminded of the truth man is given at birth -- by man I mean man and woman.”
― David Adams Richards, Mercy Among the Children: A Novel

“I was nothing more than a thug with Tolstoy in my pocket.”
― David Adams Richards, Mercy Among the Children: A Novel

“Some people just have more of a chance than others, and some just have to take the chances that they have. I know a lot of people who were more unfortunate than Jerry Bines, who turned out much better-”
― David Adams Richards, For Those Who Hunt the Wounded Down

“You do not understand -- no accomplishment overcomes the stigma of being different. [...] I try not to think about it and cannot eat my supper or nothing. I didn't understand it at first. But now I do. You are not different in the way difference is acceptable but in another, bigger way.”
― David Adams Richards, Mercy Among the Children: A Novel

“If the poor rabbits knew I was selling their dead bodies for wine, they would be heartbroken.”
― David Adams Richards, Mercy Among the Children: A Novel

“When she stamped her foot, it made a strange thud on the desolate beach. Like a heartbeat.”
― David Adams Richards, The Bay of Love and Sorrows