Alligator Bayou Foolishness and Folly Quotes

How we cite our quotes: Chapter.paragraph

Quote #1

"A foolish boy could take a warning shot the wrong way. He could shoot back—and aim."

"Bah!" Francesco opens the door. (2.36-37)

This is ironic—Carlo is calling Willy Rogers the foolish one, but Francesco is the one acting foolish; he isn't listening to reason and is choosing to do something that could clearly get them all killed.

Quote #2

"Have you ever known a fool to hold his tongue? You can just bet everyone knows all about your fight last night." Carlo sighs loudly. "Walk into town with that gun and you won't make it halfway to the Rogers house." (2.40)

True fools don't recognize the errors in their ways—so they run their mouths about what they do—and since Tallulah is filled with fools, it's likely no one saw any problem in Willy's behavior when he boasted about it to them.

Quote #3

"Goat go where goat go. Is nature. Is how God want. Who can prevent?" Francesco shrugs. "Not me."

"Dr. Hodge say you got to."

Francesco leans back from Bedda and folds his hands in front of his chest. (5.56-58)

Francesco is stubborn, just like a goat (be sure to check out his analysis in the "Characters" section for more on his goat-like tendencies). Making an excuse for letting your goats bother other people isn't a good way to make friends, or keep them—and Francesco's refusal to keep his goats off Dr. Hodge's front porch is a pretty stubborn and foolish decision.