“Tell the truth or tell a lie, that was the question that always remained” (131). Luke begins to understand why he should tell the truth when he says this quote.  He knows that with every decision he makes, there will always be a consequence.

“The pressure was off; my future as a Cardinal was back on track” (145). Luke loves baseball.  It is his passion, and he works very hard to keep his dream of becoming a Cardinal baseball player alive.  He gets some of the workers together to play a game to give him some live practice, and when he is bored he tosses himself fly balls.

“Tally buys it for him, out of her pickin’ money” (274). Trot Spruill quietly began painting the Chandler’s house.  This small act from Trot sparked an urge in Luke to finish the job, no matter what the cost was.

“So I didn’t say a word” (76). Luke keeps secrets because he thinks it is the best thing to do at the time being.  However, secrets are never good.  He slowly realizes this and ends up telling each little secret when the moment is right and he no longer feels threatened.

“I’d finally seen a worse job than picking cotton” (242).  Luke thinks picking cotton is the worst thing ever.  He can not wait to grow old enough to leave the farm, because after all he has a dream of becoming a professional baseball player.  However, he realizes how bad Samson’s job was once he lost all his earnings to Hank after being defeated by him.

“All I wanted to do was paint” (381).  After Trot starts painting the house, Luke feels obligated to finish the job.

“I just couldn’t.  I was too scared” (436).  Luke admits to why he did not tell the secrets right away.  He was scared of the consequences that would result from his actions.

“I ran from the post office back to our truck, clutching the letters” (414). Luke misses his uncle Ricky very much.  Ricky is gone at war and so the family desperately awaits any news from him that will let me them know he is safe and alive.

“My father had poured his guts into the soil for six months, and now he had nothing to show for it” (430). Once the cotton was flooded, the decision to move up north was made.  Farming was getting them  no where and they desperately needed the money.

“When y’all come home, it’ll be finished” (463). Pappy promises to Luke to finish the job since Luke can not finish it himself.  The house will finally be painted, which in its self, is a major achievement.