# Robert Cormier - Quotes: 49 - Author page: https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-cormier ## Books - [Beyond the Chocolate War](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-cormier/beyond-the-chocolate-war.md) — 18 quotes - [The Chocolate War](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-cormier/the-chocolate-war.md) — 20 quotes - [The Rag and Bone Shop](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-cormier/the-rag-and-bone-shop.md) — 11 quotes ## Recently added quotes > The ceremony took only a minute or so because Archie insisted on getting it over with quickly before anyone knew what was going on. The less drama, the better. Don't let Obie and Carter build it up. Thus, before any protest could be made, Archie had shot out his hand and pulled a marble from the box. White. Obie's jaw dropped in surprise. Things were moving too fast. He'd wanted Archie to squirm; he'd wanted the audience to realize what was going on here. He'd wanted to prolong the ceremony, to get as much of the drama and suspense out of the situation as possible. Archie's hand shot out again and it was too late for Obie to prevent the action. He drew in his breath. The marble was hidden in Archie's closed fist. He held the fist out, toward the audience. Archie held his back stiff. The marble had to be white. He hadn't come this far to be denied at the last moment. He let a smile play over his lips as he faced the audience, gambling everything in his show of confidence. He opened his palm and held up the marble for all to see. White. p. 245 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-cormier/the-chocolate-war/the-ceremony-took.md) > It hadn't been much of a rape, really. p. 89 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-cormier/beyond-the-chocolate-war/it-hadnt-been.md) > Mr. Trent puzzled him. He seemed friendly, like he really wanted to help find out who had murdered Alicia, wanted to help Jason remember what had really happened that day, but at the same time there was something strange about his questions. Jason used the word strange for want of a better word. He couldn't figure Trent out or what he wanted Jason to say. Sometimes he seemed unfriendly, like Jason had done something wrong, had broken a rule,a rule Jason didn't even know about. And those eyes of his. Like black marbles but alive, that didn't blink very much, that seemed to look right into your brain. p. 98 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-cormier/the-rag-and-bone-shop/mr-trent-puzzled.md) > "Remember that, Carter. Nobody double-crosses Archie Costello and gets away with it. When you least expect it, revenge will come." Without a further word, Archie stepped across the driveway, in front of the car, under the spotlight, and up to his front door. Then he was gone into the house. He left Carter there, shaken, not only by the prospect of Archie's revenge sometime in the future but what he had almost done. He'd almost turned traitor against Obie. Which meant being a traitor a second time. Not once but twice. Christ, he thought, what have I become? p. 209 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-cormier/beyond-the-chocolate-war/remember-that-carter.md) > The transcript lay there, waiting for him as he hung up the telephone. Waiting for him to open it again. Trent Interview. Subject: Dorrant. Jason Dorrant. Poor kid, but at least he was young, free, not caught and fixed in time, as if frozen in ambers. Like so many others. Like me. You are what you do, Lottie had said. But now I don't do anything. p. 149 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-cormier/the-rag-and-bone-shop/the-transcript-lay.md) > Horrified, The Goober counted the punches Janza was throwing at his helpless opponent. Fifteen, sixteen. He leaped to his feet. Stop it, stop it. But nobody heard. His voice was lost in he thunder or screaming voices, voices calling for the kill... kill him, kill him. p. 254 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-cormier/the-chocolate-war/horrified-the-goober.md) > Trent could see the despair in the boy's eyes, his body drooping with weariness, the trembling of his chin, the tears staining his cheeks. He sensed the imminent moment of success, felt the sweet thrill of triumph, everything else cast aside for the moment, all doubts gone. This was what he was hired to do, what he was born to do. You are what you do. Ah, Lottie. Ah, Sarah. Five minutes later, the boy uttered the words Trent needed to hear. As the machine whirred, recording the bruised and broken voice. p. 142 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-cormier/the-rag-and-bone-shop/trent-could-see.md) > The Obie-Bunting showdown was only a screen for Archie's real purpose- searching for the traitor. He suspected that the traitor was a member of The Vigils. More than suspected. Few kids outside The Vigils knew that the day off from school was to have coincided with the Bishop's visit. And the letter to Leon had focused on the visit. Thus, the meeting was a place to begin his pursuit of the traitor, and instinct- instinct that had never failed him- dictated that he would find his betrayer there. p. 95 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-cormier/beyond-the-chocolate-war/the-obie-bunting-showdown.md) > Janza grinned, amazed at the accuracy of Archie's predictions. You'll have a great year, Achie had said. Which Janza echoed now: "We're going to have a great year, Bunting." Bunting nodded. Continued to stare into space. Not wanting to look at Janza nor or anybody or anything. Staring into the future, next year, beyond. Him, Bunting, in command of the entire school. Stooges at his beck and call. An army at his disposal. No rules except those he made up. The boss. More than that. Like a dictator, for crissake. Beautiful. p. 278 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-cormier/beyond-the-chocolate-war/janza-grinned-amazed.md) > "So you know how it all works. How first you confess and then are given absolution. You have to admit your sins before you can be forgiven." Jason nodded, wondering what being a Catholic and going to confession had to do with his situation here, his sudden predicament. "Well, there is something you have to do before we can take steps to protect you." A dim warning sounded somewhere in Jason's mind, his body, his spirit- he wasn't sure which or where but he was suddenly jolted thoroughly. Confession. A different word from confess. He suddenly saw where this man was going. He wanted Jason to confess. To confess to killing Alicia Bartlett. Jason almost giggled his disbelief, a reaction that was as unpremeditated and unexpected as a belch. "You want me to say I killed Alicia Bartlett?" Horror, disbelief in his voice. p. 137 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-cormier/the-rag-and-bone-shop/so-you-know.md) > Let's get this straight: he didn't really cry but his chin would begin to wobble all over the place and tears would fill his eyes and he'd have to hold himself rigid to make it all stop. But he couldn't always make it stop. Then the fight with Bobo Kelton happened and changed everything. That was when he vowed not to cry anymore. Not during the fight but afterward. And it wasn't even a fight but one sweet and beautiful blow that sent Bobo to the floor. The surprise and shock on Bobo's fight had been terrific to see. p. 23 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-cormier/the-rag-and-bone-shop/lets-get-this.md) > "Emile will serve you well. He's an animal, but animals come in handy if they're trained right." "Right," Bunting said, but thinking, When you're gone, Archie, I'll be boss and I'll chose my own right arms. "Bunting," Archie said, looking up again, "I'll be telling Emile about it. Emile Janza will be looking forward to his job as your assistant. And Emile doesn't like to be disappointed. He's very unpredictable and gets very physical when he's disappointed. Never disappoint Emile Janza, Bunting." p. 203 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-cormier/beyond-the-chocolate-war/emile-will-serve.md)