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41 " Pervasive abuse and neglect of children is a greater danger to our species than cocaine and Communism combined. "
― Andrew Vachss , Flood (Burke, #1)
42 " A couple of buffoons were running for some state-senate seat just vacated by the incumbent's prison term. One accused the other of being "against the Internet" - a knockout punch in a world where whole hordes of humans think better sex is a faster modem. "
― Andrew Vachss , Only Child (Burke, #14)
43 " Biology does not make a man a father--nor a woman a mother. We are what we do. "
― Andrew Vachss , Another Chance to Get It Right
44 " Once convicted, perpetrators of child abuse I've met try and appeal to me on the basis that they themselves were abused children. The problem with appealing to me that way is that for every beast that emerges from that crucible, I know thousands who refuse to imitate the oppressor. And to me, of course, those are the greatest heroes.In fact, the real mystery of life is not why a tortured child becomes a serial killer, but why a tortured child *doesn't*. That's the area we're looking at; that's the area of potential hope. That's the Rosetta stone to all this. "
― Andrew Vachss
45 " the ferret, hunting,eyes on the ground, never hears footstepsof the hawk "
― Andrew Vachss , Footsteps of the Hawk (Burke, #8)
46 " take some pleasure from telling him no. My guess was that she worked for the landlord, not "
― Andrew Vachss , Aftershock
47 " I have learned that a man who counts himself a shepherd is not worthy to be a member of a flock. "
― Andrew Vachss , Haiku
48 " Going to prison is pretty common. Coming out a better person than when you went in, that’s never been done. "
― Andrew Vachss , That's How I Roll
49 " There isn’t a liquor store in the world that lets you buy on credit. So, if a man walks into a liquor store after dark, it’s either because he’s got money … or because he doesn’t. "
50 " Hard" isn't the same as "mean". "
51 " Your Honor,” Blumberg rang out, “every dog must have his day!” And he got perhaps the first standing ovation ever given in New York City night court. "
52 " The idea that you're not a writer until you're published is a lie. "
53 " If you can't be counted on, you won't be counted in. "
54 " I started thinking about the roof and how I’d like to have a garden up there someday—there was sure as hell enough fertilizer already in place. I could tell I was getting tired because I was starting to think like a citizen. Putting down roots, even on a city roof, is blubber-brained. Roots are nice, but a tree can’t run. "
― Andrew Vachss , Flood / Strega / Blue Belle
55 " If love could die along with death, this life wouldn't be so hard "
56 " A fascist believes that if, for example, you're born black, or you're born Jewish, that you're predestined from that genetic accident to behave a certain way and deserve to be treated a certain way as well. My books stand for the proposition that the monsters who frighten us have a genesis, and the genesis is *not* genetic. "
57 " You know what pit bulls are capable of, right? But they're also capable of being the most wonderful, sweet pets in the world, depending on how you raise them. That's all our children. "
58 " People won't let you live the way you want to, but if you're strong enough or quick enough, at least you don't have to live the way they want you to. I live, though, no matter what. "
59 " You stand still, you get caught. You run, you get tired. So.... Learn to lie. Then learn to lie in wait. "
― Andrew Vachss , Carbon