At Swim, Two Boys

"Thats easy fixed. You call me Papa in future, then youll be equal with your fellows."

"Whos born to hang will never drown."

"He [Mr. Mack] swept away scraping and scrubbing the floor, scratching the boards with the bristles of his broom, [...] Then out the door with it, out out in the road where it came from, out in the street where the muck belonged."

"Well, it may so be that a vocation isnt like that. It may so be that a vocation is like a friend you might make. You dont choose a friend. A friend would come to you. And you dont turn him out, no matter what others would say. Youre only too thankful if you found him."

"Forget your baths, come swimming in the sea. Its different in the sea, dont ask me why, but you dont find the same anywheres else. Theres a freedom I cant explain, like your troubles was left in your pile of clothes."

"Jim would have to sneak the flute indoors somehow. Fix the parts down the sleeves of his jacket, walking in like a scarecrow. Where would he hide it? The only place certain sure was inside the horsehair of his settle-bed. Would it be safe there? He would have to be careful sleeping. Might have to bring it out at night for fear of it crushing. Might have to sleep that way with it in his arms."