…and she never cried. Unless someone took something away from her.
-- Narrator (In the Beginning)

Importance: This quote sets up crying as a motif for the book. Whenever the author mentions Charlotte crying, it is a signal for readers to think about what has been taken from Charlotte. For example, when Hayward is adopted, it is such a great loss for Charlotte that she cannot stop crying.

Someday, Hay, we’re going to leave this place. You and me and Freedom. I’m going to have a fine ranch and a home.
-- Charlotte (chapter 1)

Importance: Charlotte vocalizes what she wants from her life. It is the goal that all of her decisions and actions carry her toward. It is also a foreshadow of the novel’s ending in which Charlotte owns property and Hayward has made a promise to work for Charlotte once he has helped his parents to move.

A young man wouldn’t have made such...
-- Mr. Millshark (chapter 2)