Song of Solomon

by Toni Morrison

“This is…for you. Instead of roses. And silk underwear and bottles of perfume.”

Things work out, son. The ways of God are mysterious, but if you live it out, just live it out, you see that it always works out. Nothing they stole or killed for did ’em a bit a good. Not one bit.”

“You don’t listen to people. Your ear is on your head, but it’s not connected to your brain.

Apparently he thought he deserved only to be loved—from a distance, though—and given what he wanted. And in return he would…what? Pleasant? Generous? Maybe all he was really saying was: I am not responsible for your pain; share your happiness with me but not your unhappiness.

What might she have been like had her husband loved her?

From the beginning, his mother and Pilate had fought for his life, and he had never so much as made either of them a cup of tea.