How we cite our quotes: The book doesn't have numbered or titled chapters, but it is broken up into sections with sub-sections under these. We'll call this Chapter:Section:Paragraph.
Quote #1
He labored long hours , was the soul of honesty—he could not escape his honesty, it was bedrock; to cheat would cause an explosion in him, yet he trusted cheaters—coveted nobody's nothing and always got poorer. (1.3.25)
Would Morris be less trusting of people if he were less honest himself?
Quote #2
"If I had a telephone, every drunken bum would call me to make deliveries, and when you get there they don't have a cent." (1.5.16)
Karp worries that installing a phone in the store—yes, you read that right—would attract dishonest customers and hurt business. What would he have to say about a Facebook page for his business?
Quote #3
He was worried but didn't tell Ida the truth when she asked him if anything else was missing. He often hid unpleasant news from her because she made it worse. (2.4.11)
Would you call Morris' withholding truth from his wife a form of dishonesty? If so, does this behavior clash with the description of him as the soul of honesty?
Quote #4
"I have no sister. That was a lie I told you. I am alone by myself." "Why you told me you had a sister?" "I didn't want you to think I was a bum." (2.4.43-45)
Frank will lie, but he feels bad about it, like right away.
Quote #5
"I'll sleep in the cellar, Mrs. You don't have to worry about me. I am as honest as the day." (3.1.8)
Um…yeah, not quite. Good one, Frank. We'll give him points for trying.
Quote #6
It was a trick but he had to do it. He warned himself not to, because it would be starting out the wrong with her and he might someday regret it. He tried to think of a better way but time was pressing and he couldn't. (3.2.6)
Frank doesn't want to begin a relationship with Helen based on a lie because it would be like building on a bad foundation. The lie would always be there, destabilizing the partnership. Frank is sharp enough to see the trouble this could cause.
Quote #7
He wanted to step clear of his mess but saw no other way other than to keep on lying. But lying made their talk useless. When he lied he was somebody else lying to somebody else. It wasn't the two of them as they were. He should have kept that in his mind. (3.2.28)
Whoa. Way to get metaphysical, Malamud. Good point, though. Lying makes you and your conversations unreal.
Quote #8
"When a man is honest he don't worry when he sleeps. This is more important than to steal a nickel." (4.3.11)
Morris has enough worry in his life. He neither needs nor wants the added weight of lies burdening his conscience.