The Sign of the Beast Quotes

“It was a time of sin. It was not a time of innocence. It was a time of physical disgust. For I remember well.”
― Joyce Carol Oates, The Sign of the Beast

“Why is the misery of a child so hilarious to other children?”
― Joyce Carol Oates, The Sign of the Beast

“In her behavior Mrs. S——was youthful and loud-talking which made us uneasy, for children are not comfortable when adults behave as if they are not adults. Often it seemed that Mrs. S——was winking at us as if there was some joke between her and us, unexplained.”
― Joyce Carol Oates, The Sign of the Beast

“Boys and girls, always remember: Jesus loves you, when no one else does!”—this was a typical remark of Mrs. S——’s, called out to us gaily, as if it was happy news and not hurtful.”
― Joyce Carol Oates, The Sign of the Beast