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Ernest Gaines Quotes

Author

Ernest Gaines is an American author known for his profound insights into racial and social issues. His works often set in the black community of Louisiana, explore themes of racial relations, poverty, and education.

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All Writing Men People Dying Ifs Believe Knows Thinking Novel Said Trying Wanted Jazz Know How African American Bigs Body Church Dies Differences

Famous Ernest Gaines Quotes

“Why is it that, as a culture, we are more comfortable seeing two men holding guns than holding hands?”

“There will always be men struggling to change, and there will always be those who are controlled by the past.”

Men Past Black Change Struggle Controlled Be A Man Black History

Book:Conversations with Ernest Gaines

Source: Conversations with Ernest Gaines

“Without love for my fellow man and respect for nature, to me, life is an obscenity.”

Men

Author:Ernest Gaines

“How do people come up with a date and a time to take life from another man? Who made them God?”

People Men Made Come Up Another Man

Book:A Lesson Before Dying: A Novel

Source: A Lesson Before Dying: A Novel

“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?”

Ifs Knows Men Should Trying Stills Dies Know How Dying Let Me Sheriffs

Book:A Lesson Before Dying

Source: A Lesson Before Dying

“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.”

Men Believe Country Law Dying Judging Murder Commit Ministers Bless Judged Peers Aunt

Book:A Lesson Before Dying: A Novel

Source: A Lesson Before Dying: A Novel

“We wait till now? Now, when we're old men, we get to be brave?”

Men Waiting Bravery Brave Old Man Be Brave

Author:Ernest Gaines

“I like the sound of people's voices, and I think what a man says can very well tell what he's thinking, whether he's lying or not.”

People Thinking Men Wells Lying Sound Voice

Book:Conversations with Ernest Gaines

Source: Conversations with Ernest Gaines

“And I thought to myself, What am I doing? Am I reaching them at all? They are acting exactly as the old men did earlier. They are fifty years younger, maybe more, but doing the same thing those old men did who never attended school a day in their lives. Is it just a vicious circle? Am I doing anything?”

Men Years School Life Is Acting Circles Fifty Reaching Old Man Vicious Vicious Circles

Book:A Lesson Before Dying: A Novel

Source: A Lesson Before Dying: A Novel

“I think I'm a very religious person. I think I believe in God as much as any man does. I don't only believe in God, I know there's God.”

Thinking Knows Men Believe Persons Doe I Believe Religious I Believe In Believe In God I Believe In God Religious Person

Author:Ernest Gaines

“The sharecropper may lower his eyes, but not because he's less of a man. That's just a condition of society that such things exist.”

Men May Eye Conditions His Eyes

Author:Ernest Gaines

About the Author

Born: January 15, 1933
Known for: Author
Quotes: 52

Books & Sources

A Lesson Before DyingRelated source material

A Lesson Before Dying: A NovelRelated source material

Conversations with Ernest GainesRelated source material

Bloodline: Five StoriesRelated source material

Mozart and LeadbellyRelated source material

The Autobiography of Miss Jane PittmanRelated source material

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