"By then is was like getting your parrot going for company, you would say a key word and he'd chew it over, then you'd see it snag way in, and out whole favorites would crank - battle by battle - like rolls on some old player piano" (Book I, pg. 1.)

"Neighbors heard, walked, come rushing. Among them my own mother - who was not that yet - a thin strict half-spoilt heiress whose mission in life was to later whip me into ladyship and grammar and who failed at both, poor thing" (Book I, pg. 27.)

"With Carolinians, child, gene-knowledge means character-knowledge means history-knowledge means destiny-knowledge. And you can quote me" (Book I, pg. 67.)

"'Look, you, one us might's well be getting what she want. Seem like it ain't ever gone be me. Your trouble is you ain't learnt to boss folks yet. You best start. That you territory...