A man is the sum of his misfortunes. One day you'd think misfortune would get tired, but then time is your… — William Faulkner

Then Ben wailed again, hopeless and prolonged. It was nothing. Just sound. It might have been all time and injustice and sorrow become vocal for an instant by a conjunction of planets.

When people act like niggers, no matter who they are, the only thing to do is treat them like a nigger.

Dilsey stroked Ben's lower head, slowly and steadily, smoothing the bang upon his brow. He wailed quietly, unhurriedly. "Hush," Dilsey said. "Hush, now. We be gone in a minute. Hush, now." He wailed quietly and steadily.