The Cold Millions

by Jess Walter

There is no world but this one. And all we want is to be seen in it.

Death comes for everything, but only spiders and men make you wait for it.

People expect a story to always mean the same thing, but I have found that stories change like people do.

I think he came to believe it was better to choose your life, and that even choosing your death was better than letting someone else choose your life.”

“But whether you want me to or not, I am here to fight for you stupid sons of bitches. For your jobs and your booze and your right to be as stupid and poor a son of a bitch as any rich, stupid son of a bitch. I’m here to fight for your backs and for your arms, and for the freedoms you’re too goddamn stupid to use. To come and go as free men, as goddamn Americans no matter where you were born, to make your way in this world without some robber baron owning you.