I always go backwards when I am backing up. Charles Portis More Quotes by Charles Portis More Quotes From Charles Portis Listen, here's what I'd like to do: I'd like to live in a trailer and play records all night. Charles Portis records play night You must pay for everything in this world one way and another. There is nothing free except the Grace of God. You cannot earn that or deserve it. Charles Portis grit grace world I had hated these ponies for the part they played in my father's death but now I realized the notion was fanciful, that it was wrong to charge blame to these pretty beasts who knew neither good nor evil but only innocence. I say that of these ponies. I have known some horses and a good many more pigs who I believe harbored evil intent in their hearts. I will go further and say all cats are wicked, though often useful. Who has not seen Satan in their sly faces? Some preachers will say, well, that is superstitious "claptrap." My answer is this: Preacher, go to your Bible and read Luke 8: 26-33 Charles Portis horse believe father I would not put a thief in my mouth to steal my brains. Charles Portis grit thieves brain On his deathbed he asked for a priest and became a Catholic. That was his wife's religion. It was his own business and none of mine. If you had sentenced one hundred and sixty men to death and seen around eighty of them swing, then maybe at the last minute you would feel the need for some stronger medicine than the Methodists could make. Charles Portis swings medicine men My Master of Arts degree means nothing at all to these monkeys and I have come to share their indifference. Charles Portis degrees mean art I know what they said even if they would not say it to my face. People love to talk. They love to slander you if you have any substance. Charles Portis substance faces people The wicked flee when none pursueth. Charles Portis true-grit grit wicked Time just gets away from us. Charles Portis true-grit grit get-away As he drank, little brown drops of coffee clung to his mustache like dew. Men will live like billy goats if they are let alone. Charles Portis mustache coffee men But I had not the strength nor the inclination to bandy words with a drunkard. What have you done when you have bested a fool? Charles Portis inclination fool done People do not give it credence that a fourteen-year-old girl could leave home and go off in the wintertime to avenge her father's blood but it did not seem so strange then, although I will say it did not happen every day. I was just fourteen years of age when a coward going by the name Tom Chaney shot my father down in Fort Smith, Arkansas, and robbed him of his life and his horse and $150 in cash money plus two California gold pieces that he carried in his trouser band. Charles Portis horse girl father Mexican homes as a rule are closed off to the world by high blank walls of yellowish masonry, topped with broken glass to discourage escaladores, or climbing burglars. The gardens and fountains and other delights are hidden, as in an Arab city. Charles Portis wall garden home Nothing I like to do pays well. Charles Portis wells pay She gave me a pledge card, a card promising an annual gift of $5, $10, or $25 toward the support of the Unity mission. I filled it out under the hot light of the projector. The name and address spaces were much too short, unless you wrote a very fine hand or unless your name was Ed Poe and you lived at 1 Elm St. Charles Portis light names hands Lookin' back is a bad habit. Charles Portis bad-habits habit Nothing is too long or too short either if you have a true and interesting tale and what I call a "graphic" writing style combined with educational aims. Charles Portis educational writing long What have you done when you have bested a fool? Charles Portis fool done We must each of us bear our own misfortunes. Charles Portis misfortunes bears MR.GOUDY: I believe you testified that you backed away from Aaron Wharton. MR.COGBURN: That is right. MR.GOUDY: You were backing away? MR.COGBURN: Yes sir. He had that ax raised. MR.GOUDY: Which direction were you going? MR.COGBURN: I always go backwards when I am backing up. Charles Portis backing-away backing-up believe
