The Lottery Quotes

“Although the villagers had forgotten the ritual and lost the original black box, they still remembered to use stones.”
― Shirley Jackson, The Lottery

“It isn't fair, it isn't right," Mrs. Hutchinson screamed, and then they were upon her.”
― Shirley Jackson, The Lottery

“Tessie Hutchinson was in the center of a cleared space by now, and she held her hands out desperately as the villagers moved in on her. "It isn't fair," she said. A stone hit her on the side of the head.”
― Shirley Jackson, The Lottery

“It's not the way it used to be... people ain't the way they used to be.”
― Shirley Jackson, The Lottery

“They do say," Mr. Adams said to Old Man Warner, who stood next to him, "that over in 
the north village they're talking of giving up the lottery."

Old Man Warner snorted. "Pack of crazy fools," he said. "Listening to the young folks, nothing's good enough for them. Next thing you know, they'll be wanting to go back to living in caves, nobody work any more, live hat way for a while. Used to be a saying about 'Lottery in June, corn be heavy soon.' First thing you know, we'd all be eating stewed chickweed and acorns. There's always been a lottery, he added petulantly. "Bad 
enough to see young Joe Summers up there joking with everybody."
"Some places have already quit lotteries." Mrs. Adams said.
"Nothing but trouble in that," Old Man Warner said stoutly. "Pack of young fools.”
― Shirley Jackson, The Lottery

“The morning of June 27th was clear and sunny, with the fresh warmth of a full-summer day; the flowers were blossoming profusely and the grass was richly green.”
― Shirley Jackson, The Lottery

“They stood together, away from the pile of stones in the corner, and their jokes were quiet and they smiled rather than laughed.”
― Shirley Jackson, The Lottery

“There was a great deal of fussing to be done before Mr. Summers declared the lottery 
open. There were the lists to make up­­ of heads of families, heads of households in each family, members of each household in each family.”
― Shirley Jackson, The Lottery

“All right, folks." Mr. Summers said. "Let's finish quickly.”
― Shirley Jackson, The Lottery