Quote 1

But even the worst decisions we make don’t necessarily remove us from the circle of humanity.

Moore states this in the Introduction as he reflects on what he has learned from interviewing Wes. A central theme of the book is the interconnectedness of all of humanity, and this line underscores Moore’s belief in the value of understanding, learning from, and building community with people from all walks of life. Although Moore is careful not to excuse Wes’s involvement in the crime that led to his imprisonment, he appreciates what Wes has taught him and how the interviews have bonded them. Wes has shown Moore that all human beings have something to learn and something to teach, no matter their circumstances. Moore views Wes as more than just a prisoner or a cautionary tale; through the course of their interviews, Moore has recognized Wes’s humanity and built a true connection with him.

Quote 2

We were all enclosed by the same fence, bumping into one another, fighting, celebrating. Showing one another our best and worst, revealing ourselves—even our cruelty and crimes—as if that fence had created a circle of trust. A brotherhood. 

In Chapter Two, Moore describes the sense of community he feels when he begins to hang out at the basketball court after moving to the Bronx. The court is a meeting place for all the young men of the neighborhood, and it becomes a symbol for the kind of brotherhood Moore seeks. The court is closed off from the outside world by a fence, and the fence forms a circle of protection around the players, allowing them to bond with and trust one another. The court is a world of pure meritocracy, where the only thing that matters is how well you play. It represents the interconnectedness of humanity that Moore explores throughout the book.

Quote 3

The expectations that others place on us help us form our expectations of ourselves.

This line, which comes at the opening of Part III during one of Moore’s visits to Wes, addresses the central question of the book: how could Wes and Moore come from such similar backgrounds and yet have such different life trajectories? Wes argues that because others’ expectations influence our own expectations, people lose control over the trajectory of their lives, implying that the events that led him to prison were on some level the inevitable outcome of the limited potential others saw in him. While Moore agrees that there is a relationship between others’ beliefs about us and our beliefs about ourselves, he rejects the idea that Wes could not control his own life, and throughout the book he underscores the importance and power of personal responsibility. Moore sees himself as someone who succeeded because he took control of his own life, while Wes never truly took ownership of his own destiny. This quotation captures the empathy he has for Wes while also conveying his belief that although the expectations of others may influence our lives, they do not determine them.