Every Man a King Quotes

“with a huge hoe made from the horn of some beast of burden. That path could have been anywhere in the world. And that woman was the reason there’s life anywhere. She was both a fortress wall and the only home anyone would ever need. All of that in a smile.”
― Walter Mosley, Every Man a King: A King Oliver Novel

“Most of human life is defined by waiting”
― Walter Mosley, Every Man a King: A King Oliver Novel

“You know love is true when it survives the devastation it causes.”
― Walter Mosley, Every Man a King: A King Oliver Novel

“In spite of appearances, the majesty of nature is just a fancy blanket draped over the malevolence of the creatures of earth.”
― Walter Mosley, Every Man a King: A King Oliver Novel

“The sun is out and the game’s afoot,”
― Walter Mosley, Every Man a King: A King Oliver Novel

“On the other hand, in ancient, and modern, tribal cultures, everything given is already known by everyone you know. Manhood, womanhood, your first trinket, your last rite. Back then, and over there, they expected happiness and therefore achieved that state.”
― Walter Mosley, Every Man a King: A King Oliver Novel

“Men and women search for love, find it, and then wake up one morning to the harsh reality that the cap was left off and the precious passion has dried up.”
― Walter Mosley, Every Man a King: A King Oliver Novel

“How you doin’, Detective Oliver?” he greeted. “Have a seat.” “You know I haven’t been a cop for nearly fifteen years,” I said as I settled. “Once a cop…” he insinuated on an airy smile. Then: “What you got in the satchel?” It was a slender blue briefcase I’d found in the blue bedroom. I laid the case on Moroccan tile, then opened it to reveal 250 shiny silver disks. “Oh my God,” Lamont said, his eyes alight with the promise of treasure. “You got the cards?” I asked him. “Blackjack?” “Just what I had in mind.” “Loretta,” the luckster called out. “Yeah, baby?” “Bring me out a hundred ones.” “Okay.” “There’s more than twice that here,” I said. “I see,” he assured me. From somewhere in the folds of the housecoat, my friend brought out a blue deck of Bicycle Standard playing cards. Mr. Charles’s face glistened with the fever of gambling. Somehow he managed to shuffle the deck using the good hand and the infirm one. Blackjack. It was the first word of an ancient incantation that sometimes allowed a poor man or woman to dream about deliverance. Lamont grinned at those cards.”
― Walter Mosley, Every Man a King: A King Oliver Novel