'...She cannot stay out of duty. The things one does, one should do out of love.' (p155) - Edwidge Danticat

'If a woman is worth remembering,' said my grandmother, 'there is no need to have her name carved in letters.' (p165)

in terms of being immigrants, especially from a place like Haiti, when we see — you know, we see the cholera, we see the earthquake. I think people forget that there’s also this wonderful and powerful history of revolt, of resilience, of resistance, and this wonderful art that’s followed in its wake that has this great beauty to offer to the world.

remember that love is like kerosene. The more you have, the more you burn. (p199)