Quotes from Out of the Easy

“I leapt eagerly into books. The characters’ lives were so much more interesting than the lonely heartbeat of my own.”
― Ruta Sepetys, quote from Out of the Easy

“Sometimes we set off down a road thinkin' we're goin' one place and we end up another. But that's okay. The important thing is to start.”
― Ruta Sepetys, quote from Out of the Easy

“Let me tell you something 'bout these rich Uptown folk," said Cokie. "They got everything that money can buy, their bank accounts are fat, but they ain't happy. They ain't ever gone be happy. You know why? They soul broke. And money can't fix that, no sir.”
― Ruta Sepetys, quote from Out of the Easy

“What do you do with all this bank, Josie? Be a lot easier if you just lifted your skirt.”

“The only reason I’d lift my skirt is to pull out my pistol and plug you in the head.”
― Ruta Sepetys, quote from Out of the Easy

“Some things just won’t go away, no matter how hard you scrub.”
― Ruta Sepetys, quote from Out of the Easy

“You like me, Josie Moraine. You just don't know it yet.”
― Ruta Sepetys, quote from Out of the Easy

“Tragedy was a big social event, and everyone wanted in on it.”
― Ruta Sepetys, quote from Out of the Easy

“We all laced together—a brothel madam, an English professor, a mute cook, a quadroon cabbie, and me, the girl carrying a bucket of lies and throwing them like confetti.”
― Ruta Sepetys, quote from Out of the Easy

“Willie said normal was boring and that I should be grateful that I had a touch of spice. She said no one cared about boring people, and when they died, they were forgotten, like something that slips behind the dresser.”
― Ruta Sepetys, quote from Out of the Easy

“Shelves without books were lonely and just plain wrong.”
― Ruta Sepetys, quote from Out of the Easy

“There was no ‘Miss Woodley.’ There was Willie. Willie was about life, and she grabbed it by the balls. Y’all know that. She loved a stiff drink, a stiff hundred, and she loved her business. And she didn’t judge nobody. She loved everyone equal—accountants, queers, musicians, she welcomed us all, said we were all idiots just the same.”
― Ruta Sepetys, quote from Out of the Easy

“If I poured all the lies I had told into the Mississippi, the river would rise and flood the city.”
― Ruta Sepetys, quote from Out of the Easy

“Man, you’re a regular Bonnie Parker.”

“A dame that knows the ropes isn’t likely to get tied up.”

Jesse found that hysterical. “Did Willie say that?”

“Nope, Mae West. Now, how do I get on this thing in a skirt?”
― Ruta Sepetys, quote from Out of the Easy

“Charlie Marlowe never wrote horror, but somehow horror was writing Charlie Marlowe.”
― Ruta Sepetys, quote from Out of the Easy

“I wasn't certain of anything anymore, except that New Orleans was a faithless friend and I wanted to leave her.”
― Ruta Sepetys, quote from Out of the Easy

“One day when I was fourteen, I told Charlie that I hated Mother. “Don’t hate her, Jo,” he told me. “Feel sorry for her. She’s not near as smart as you. She wasn’t born with your compass, so she wanders around, bumping into all sorts of walls. That’s sad.” I understood what he meant, and it made me see Mother differently. But wasn’t there some sort of rule that said parents had to be smarter than their kids? It didn’t seem fair.”
― Ruta Sepetys, quote from Out of the Easy

“Look at you, locked and loaded, like Mae West of the Motor City.”
― Ruta Sepetys, quote from Out of the Easy

“It amazed me how some people could touch an instrument and create something so beautiful, and when others tried, like me, it just sounded like mangled noise.”
― Ruta Sepetys, quote from Out of the Easy

“This town will eat you up if you’re not careful. But I won’t be here forever.”
― Ruta Sepetys, quote from Out of the Easy

“Writers of historical fiction would be lost without libraries and archives.”
― Ruta Sepetys, quote from Out of the Easy

“They got everything money can buy, their bank accounts are fat, but they ain't happy. They ain't ever gonna be happy. You know why? They soul broke. And money can't fix that, no sir.”
― Ruta Sepetys, quote from Out of the Easy

“They drink like fish and ask the most probing questions."
"Welcome to the South." Patrick laughed.”
― Ruta Sepetys, quote from Out of the Easy

“Jesse motioned to my hair. “Looks like you’ve been in the bath yourself.” He settled into a chair on the front porch.

“I had just washed my hair, but then I had to go shoot someone. Do you want a cold drink?”
― Ruta Sepetys, quote from Out of the Easy

“I wished I had a friend in the Quarter, someone like Charlotte. Someone I could share secrets with, collapse on her bedroom floor, and spill my guts about Patrick to. I saw so many girls walking arm in arm, laughing, an inexplicable closeness and comfort that they had a protector and confidante. They had someone they could count on.”
― Ruta Sepetys, quote from Out of the Easy

“Engrave your pieces, Jo, and they’ll always find their way back to you,” said Willie.”
― Ruta Sepetys, quote from Out of the Easy

“Willie appeared completely calm about the news of Mother. She always said she could make tea in a tornado.”
― Ruta Sepetys, quote from Out of the Easy

“God, I need that coffee. I feel like a bag of smashed assholes.”
― Ruta Sepetys, quote from Out of the Easy

“Why you frettin', Jo? You not sure?"

I inhaled my tears in order to speak. "I'm sure I want to go, but I'm not sure it's possible.Why would they accept me? And if they did, how would I pay for it? I don't want to get my hopes up only to be disappointed. I'm always disappointed."

"Now don't let fear keep you in New Orleans. Sometimes we set off down a road thinkin' we're goin' one place and we end up another. But that's okay. The important thing is to start. I know you can do it. Come on, Josie girl, give those ol' wings a try."

"Willie doesn't want me to."

"So what, you gonna stay here just so you can clean her house and run around with all the naked crazies in the Quarter? You got a bigger story than that.”
― Ruta Sepetys, quote from Out of the Easy

“You got to get outta here, Josie. New Orleans is fine for some people, real good for a few. But not for you. Too much baggage that’ll pull you down. You got dreams and the potential to make ’em real.”
― Ruta Sepetys, quote from Out of the Easy

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Popular quotes

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― Roger Zelazny, quote from The Hand of Oberon

“Postscript, 2005 From the Publisher ON APRIL 7, 2004, the Mid-Hudson Highland Post carried an article about an appearance that John Gatto made at Highland High School. Headlined “Rendered Speechless,” the report was subtitled “Advocate for education reform brings controversy to Highland.” The article relates the events of March 25 evening of that year when the second half of John Gatto’s presentation was canceled by the School Superintendent, “following complaints from the Highland Teachers Association that the presentation was too controversial.” On the surface, the cancellation was in response to a video presentation that showed some violence. But retired student counselor Paul Jankiewicz begged to differ, pointing out that none of the dozens of students he talked to afterwards were inspired to violence. In his opinion, few people opposing Gatto had seen the video presentation. Rather, “They were taking the lead from the teacher’s union who were upset at the whole tone of the presentation.” He continued, “Mr. Gatto basically told them that they were not serving kids well and that students needed to be told the truth, be given real-life learning experiences, and be responsible for their own education. [Gatto] questioned the validity and relevance of standardized tests, the prison atmosphere of school, and the lack of relevant experience given students.” He added that Gatto also had an important message for parents: “That you have to take control of your children’s education.” Highland High School senior Chris Hart commended the school board for bringing Gatto to speak, and wished that more students had heard his message. Senior Katie Hanley liked the lecture for its “new perspective,” adding that ”it was important because it started a new exchange and got students to think for themselves.” High School junior Qing Guo found Gatto “inspiring.” Highland teacher Aliza Driller-Colangelo was also inspired by Gatto, and commended the “risk-takers,” saying that, following the talk, her class had an exciting exchange about ideas. Concluded Jankiewicz, the students “were eager to discuss the issues raised. Unfortunately, our school did not allow that dialogue to happen, except for a few teachers who had the courage to engage the students.” What was not reported in the newspaper is the fact that the school authorities called the police to intervene and ‘restore the peace’ which, ironically enough, was never in the slightest jeopardy as the student audience was well-behaved and attentive throughout. A scheduled evening meeting at the school between Gatto and the Parents Association was peremptorily forbidden by school district authorities in a final assault on the principles of free speech and free assembly… There could be no better way of demonstrating the lasting importance of John Taylor Gatto’s work, and of this small book, than this sorry tale. It is a measure of the power of Gatto’s ideas, their urgency, and their continuing relevance that school authorities are still trying to shut them out 12 years after their initial publication, afraid even to debate them. — May the crusade continue! Chris Plant Gabriola Island, B.C. February, 2005”
― John Taylor Gatto, quote from Dumbing Us Down: The Hidden Curriculum of Compulsory Education

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