Sam: It must . . . Ja . . . it must look like romance.Willie: Now another one! What's romance?Sam: Love story with happy ending.
-- Sam and Willie (Page 5 paragraph 14 - 16)

Importance: As he tries to help Willie improve his dancing skills, Sam equates ballroom dancing to romance, setting up his optimistic attitude even in the face of serious racial issues that arise later.

I've heard enough, Sam! Jesus! It's a bloody awful world when you come to think of it. People can be real bastards.
-- Hally (Page 15 paragraph 8)

Importance: This foreshadows Hally's own despicable behavior that is to come shortly.

I know, I know! I oscillate between hope and despair for this world as well, Sam. But things will change, you wait and see. One day somebody is going to get up and give history a kick in the backside and get it going again.
-- Hally (Page 15 paragraph 14)

Importance: This quote sets up the discussion on men of magnitude between Sam and Hally.

Tolstoy may have educated his...
-- Hally (Page 23 paragraph 10)