Winter in the Blood Quotes

“He had followed the calendar, the years, time-
Bird farted.
And it came to me, as though it were riding one moment of the gusting wind, as though bird had had it in him all the time and had passed it to me in that one moment of instant corruption.”
― James Welch, Winter in the Blood

“But the distance I felt came not from country or people; it came from within me. I was as distant from myself as a hawk from the moon.”
― James Welch, Winter in the Blood

“I think heroes are ordinary people who do extraordinary things that draw on some deeper resources of spirit”
― James Welch, Winter in the Blood

“Virgil First Raise:
Sometimes you have to lean into the wind to stand straight.

Yellow Calf:
Being dead isn't so bad once you get used to it.

Young Virgil:
Where are we going, daddy?

John First Raise:
We'll know once we been there, enit?”
― James Welch, Winter in the Blood

“You must understand how people think in desperate times. When their bellies are full, they can afford to be happy and generous with each other – the meat is shared, the women work and gossip, men gamble – it’s a good time and you do not see things clearly. There is no need. But when the pot is empty and your guts are tight in your belly, you begin to look around. The hunger sharpens your eye.”
― James Welch, Winter in the Blood

“He wasn't satisfied," I said.

"He accomplished any number of things."

"But none of them satisfied him."

Theresa whirled around, her eyes large and dark with outrage. "And why not?"

"He wasn't happy...”
― James Welch, Winter in the Blood