Ragtime Quotes

“There are people who walk this Earth who truly belong in Hell. Sometimes, we have to move ‘em along a little… point the way.” --Vernon Kraft, Avenging Angel from The Ragtime Coven”

“Apple Brandy?”“It’s for my tea,” she explained. “Medicinal, you know.”“Medicinal?” The Reverend tried to hide a smile.“Well, yeah,” Maddy started to smile herself. “Without the brandy, it’d be just some crumpled up leaves floatin’ in warm water… and that’d just make me sick!”--Aunt Maddy from The Ragtime Coven”

“Lucifer sharpened his gaze and focused on Ajax. “Yes… I want you to drive over to New Jersey, load those two corpses into your car and take them back to the Italians… personally”“In my car?”“They haven’t been in the water more than a week, Ajax.”“But actually… inside?”“Well,” Lucifer’s patience was fading, “If you tie them to the fenders like you’re coming back from Deer Camp, the Italians might not find you quite as endearing…”--Lucifer and Ajax from The Ragtime Coven”

“Well, next time that Gerry Rees comes in, send him to me,” Lois threatened. “I’ll wait until he’s nice and distracted and then boom, I’ll pull out the brass knuckles!”“You’ll do no such thing!” Maggie warned her. “That’d hurt everyone’s business here! …And you got brass knuckles? Where the hell did you get brass knuckles?”“They been in the family for years. Grandpap had ‘em down on the docks.” Lois admitted.“Lois being the oldest, they went to her…” Margaret added.“Well, just the same, we can’t afford anyone leaving any traceable marks on the gentlemen around here.”--Maggie Pollaski with the Raterink Sisters from The Ragtime Coven”

“American musicians, instead of investigating ragtime, attempt to ignore it, or dismiss it with a contemptuous word. But that has always been the course of scholasticism in every branch of art. Whatever new thing the 'people' like is poohpoohed; whatever is 'popular' is spoken of as not worth the while. The fact is, nothing great or enduring, especially in music, has ever sprung full-fledged and unprecedented from the brain of any master; the best that he gives to the world he gathers from the hearts of the people, and runs it through the alembic of his genius.”

“The marriage seemed to flourish on Father’s extended absences. ” Ragtime”

“[Freud] "sat in his quiet cozy study in Vienna, glad to be back. He said to Ernest Jones, America is a mistake, a gigantic mistake.” Ragtime”

“Writing is like driving a car at night. You can only see as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way.”

“I am often asked the question How can the masses permit themselves to be exploited by the few. The answer is By being persuaded to identify with them.”