The old bitterness came up in him, and he did not have time to cogitate and push it down.

— Carson McCullers

The people dreamed and fought and slept as much as ever. And by habit they shortened their thoughts so that they would not wander out into the darkness beyond tomorrow.

— Carson McCullers

There are all these people here I don't know by sight or by name. And we pass alongside each other and don't have any connection. And they don't know me and I don't know them. And now I'm leaving town and there are all these people I will never know.

— Carson McCullers

There are those who know and those who don't know. And for every ten thousand who don't know there's only one who knows. That's the miracle of all time--the fact that these millions know so much but don't know this.

— Carson McCullers

There are times when a man's greatest need is to have someone to love, some focal point for his diffused emotions. Also, there are times when the irritations, disappointments, and fears of life, restless as spermatozoids, must be released in hate.

— Carson McCullers

There is a deeper reason why the café was so precious to this town. And this deeper reason has to do with a certain pride that had not hitherto been known in these parts. To understand this new pride the cheapness of human life must be kept in mind. There were always plenty of people clustered around a mill – but it was seldom that every family had enough meal, garments, and fat back to go the rounds. Life could become one long dim scramble just to get the things needed to keep alive. And the confusing point is this: All useful things have a price, and are bought only with money, as that is the way the world is run. You know without having to reason about it the price of a bale of cotton, or a quart of molasses. But no value has been put on human life; it is given to us free and taken without being paid for. What is it worth? If you look around, at times the value may seem to be little or nothing at all. Often after you have sweated and tried and things are not better for you, there comes a feeling deep down in the soul that you are not worth much.

— Carson McCullers

There was another thing bigger than the tiredness – and this was the strong crew purpose.

— Carson McCullers

The thinking mind is best controlled by the imagination.

— Carson McCullers

The way I need you is a loneliness I cannot bear

— Carson McCullers

They are the of me.

— Carson McCullers