# Quote — Toni Morrison, Beloved

> They killed the flirt whom folks called Life for leading them on. Making them think the next sunrise would be worth it; that another stroke of time would do it at last. Only when she was dead would they be safe. The successful ones — the ones who had been there enough years to have maimed, mutilated, maybe even buried her — kept watch over the others who were still in her cock-teasing hug, caring and looking forward, remembering and looking back.

- Author: [Toni Morrison](https://www.leafyquotes.com/toni-morrison.md)
- Book: [Beloved](https://www.leafyquotes.com/toni-morrison/beloved.md)
- Source: [Wikiquote](https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Toni_Morrison#Beloved_(1987)) ([CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/))
- Quote page: https://www.leafyquotes.com/toni-morrison/beloved/they-killed-the