A Gathering of Old Men Change Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #7

"They ain't got no more horses to break anymore. The tractors, the cane cutters, and I ain't been nothing ever since. They look at you today and call you trifling, 'cause they see you sitting there all the time doing nothing. They can't remember when you used to break all the horses. […] Well, I remember. And I know who took it from me, too."

            "You ever heard of progress?" Mapes asked him. Mapes had been wiping his face and neck again.

            "I ain't thinking "bout no progress. I'm thinking "bout breaking horses."

There's no denying it: Mapes just does not get it—or he just refuses to get it.

"Luke Will's days are over with, Papa," Gil said. "Luke Will's days are past. Gone forever."

            "And mine?" Fix asked him. "Mine, Gi-bear?"

            "Those days are gone, Papa, Gil said. […] These are the seventies, soon to be the eighties. Not the twenties, not the thirties, not the forties. People died—people we knew—died to change those things. Those days are gone forever, I hope." (12.138-9)

We've got to admit, these words Gil says to his dad took some serious courage, but they sure are powerful.