Ernest Gaines Quotes About Dying

• I still don't even know if the sheriff will let me see him. And suppose he did; what then? What do I say to him? Do I know what a man is? Do I know how a man is supposed to die? I'm still trying to find out how a man should live. Am I supposed to tell someone how to die who has never lived?

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  Ernest Gaines

  Men   Dying   Trying  

  Ernest J. Gaines (2015). “A Lesson Before Dying”, p.36, Serpent's Tail

  1248

• "What for?" I said. "What for, Tante Lou? He treated me the same way he treated her. He wants me to feel guilty, just as he wants her to feel guilty. Well, I'm not feeling guilty, Tante Lou. I didn't put him there. I do everything I know how to do to keep people like him from going there. He's not going to make me feel guilty."

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  Ernest Gaines

  People   Feelings   Dying  

  Ernest J. Gaines (2004). “A Lesson Before Dying: A Novel”, p.123, Vintage

  717

• But let us say he was (guilty). Let us for a moment say he was (guilty). What justice would there be to take his life? Justice, gentlemen? Why, I would just as soon put a hog in the electric chair as this.

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  Ernest Gaines

  Justice   Gentleman   Dying  

  4218

• We looked at each other, and I could see in those big reddened eyes that he was not going to scream. He was full of anger - and who could blame him? - but he was no fool. He needed me, and he wanted me here, if only to insult me.

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  Ernest Gaines

  Eye   Dying   Fool  

  Ernest J. Gaines (2004). “A Lesson Before Dying: A Novel”, p.130, Vintage

  3199

• Now, about that mulatto teacher and me. There was no love there for each other. There was not even respect. We were enemies if anything. He hated me, and I knew it, and he knew I knew it. I didn't like him, but I needed him, needed him to tell me something that none of the others could or would.

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  Ernest Gaines

  Teacher   Enemy   Dying  

  Ernest J. Gaines (2015). “A Lesson Before Dying”, p.67, Serpent's Tail

  2886

• Don't tell me to believe. Don't tell me to believe in the same God or laws that men believe in who commit these murders. Don't tell me to believe that God can bless this country and that men are judged by their peers. Who among his peers judged him? Was I there? Was the minister there? Was Harry Williams there? Was Farrell Jarreau? Was my aunt? Was Vivian? No, his peers did not judge him, and I will not believe.

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  Ernest Gaines

  Believe  

  Ernest J. Gaines (2004). “A Lesson Before Dying: A Novel”, p.255, Vintage

  4579

• "You going back," she said. "You ain't going to run away from this, Grant."

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  Ernest Gaines

  Dying   Said  

  Ernest J. Gaines (2015). “A Lesson Before Dying”, p.123, Serpent's Tail

  644

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