Toni Morrison Beloved Quotations

Freeing yourself was one thing; claiming ownership of that freed self was another.

There is really nothing more to say-except why. But since why is difficult to handle, one must take refuge in how.

Listen up. Let me tell you something. A man ain’t a goddamn ax. Chopping, hacking, busting every goddamn minute of the day. Things get to him. Things he can’t chop down because they’re inside.

Anger ... it's a paralyzing emotion ... you can't get anything done.

Would it be all right? Would it be all right to go ahead and feel? Go ahead and count on something?

And wouldn't you know he'd be a singing man.

Unless carefree, mother love was a killer.

Clever, but schoolteacher beat him anyway to show him that definitions belonged to the definers - not the defined.

Not knowing it was hard; knowing it was harder

Anything dead coming back to life hurts.

Definitions belong to the definers, not the defined.