“Everyone in prison has an ideal of violence, murder. Beneath all relationships between prisoners is the ever-present fact of murder. It ultimately defines our relationship among ourselves.”
— Jack Henry Abbott
“Sometimes I doubt that anyone with a philosophical turn of mind is fit to judge anyone. He never comprehends the concept of guilt.”
— Jack Henry Abbott
“The other inmates stand in a long straight line, flanked by guards, and I am dragged past them. I do not respect them, because they will not run – will not try to escape.”
– Jack Henry Abbott
“One morning I woke up and was plunged into psychological shock. I had forgotten I was free.”
– Jack Henry Abbott
“Imagine a thousand more such daily intrusions in your life, every hour and minute of every day, and you can grasp the source of this paranoia, this anger that could consume me at any moment if I lost control.”
– Jack Henry Abbott