...they were nobodies in the county, they would leave nothing behind but their headstones. - John Updike

I don’t think about politics,” Rabbit says. “That’s one of my Goddam precious American rights, not to think about politics. I just don’t see why we’re supposed to walk down the street with our hands tied behind our back and let ourselves be blackjacked by every thug who says he has a revolution going. And it really burns me up to listen to hotshot crap-car salesmen dripping with Vitalis sitting on their plumped-up asses bitching about a country that’s been stuffing goodies into their mouth ever since they were born.

But cities aren’t like people; they live on and on, even though their reason for being where they are has gone downriver and out to sea.

[Harry, to Nelson] "Don't forget, there's a Depression coming."