Don't Forget Me, Little Bessie Quotes

“I don’t challenge the beliefs of others, Bessie. The people who deny a greater reality than the physical one take the easy way out. They destroy the great mystery, and with it the incremental discovery of art and science.” This was why I was falling in”
― James Lee Burke, Don't Forget Me, Little Bessie

“The cicadas were singing in the trees, and the sky was yellow and purple and red, like rain falling on a fire.”
― James Lee Burke, Don't Forget Me, Little Bessie

“Mama always said business and friendship guaranteed suspicion and long nights with no sleep.”
― James Lee Burke, Don't Forget Me, Little Bessie

“I opened the front door for Jared. “Ready to go?” he said. “I’m not sure. Did you see Mr. Slick?” “The spirit who visits you sometimes? No, I didn’t.” “He doesn’t let everyone see him,” I said. “I gathered that.” “You don’t believe he’s real, do you?” “I don’t challenge the beliefs of others, Bessie. The people who deny a greater reality than the physical one take the easy way out. They destroy the great mystery, and with it the incremental discovery of art and science.”
― James Lee Burke, Don't Forget Me, Little Bessie

“I have never understood the attitude in either the North or the South about people of color. Northerners like them as an abstraction and fear them as individuals. Southerners are fond of them personally and hate them in groups. How smart is that?”
― James Lee Burke, Don't Forget Me, Little Bessie

“I visited Miz Banks often and helped her start up a library in the town’s old firehouse. I couldn’t figure out why she kept at it. Teenagers broke her windows and sniggered behind her back, and women looked askance when they passed her on the street. Even I got dirty looks because I was at her side. Know why small towns are small? They’re small.”
― James Lee Burke, Don't Forget Me, Little Bessie