Quotes by Ernest Gaines

Question everything. Every stripe, every star, every word spoken. Everything.

Sometimes you got to hurt something to help something. Sometimes you have to plow under one thing in order for something else to grow.

The mark of fear is not easily removed.

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

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

Words mean nothing. Action is the only thing. Doing. That's the only thing.

What I miss today more than anything else - I don't go to church as much anymore - but that old-time religion, that old singing, that old praying which I love so much. That is the great strength of my being, of my writing.

I was raised by a lady that was crippled all her life but she did everything for me and she raised me. She washed our clothes, cooked our food, she did everything for us. I don't think I ever heard her complain a day in her life. She taught me responsibility towards my brother and sisters and the community.