Skip to content

Action Quote by Joyce Carol Oates

“FOXFIRE NEVER SAYS NEVER! By the time the kidnapped turquoise-and-chrome car overturns--turns and turns and turns!--in a snow-drifted field north of Tydeman's Corners Legs Sadovsky will have driven eleven miles from Eddy's Smoke Shop on Fairfax Avenue, six wild miles with the Highway Patrol cop in…” quote by Joyce Carol Oates
Download Open image
““FOXFIRE NEVER SAYS NEVER! By the time the kidnapped turquoise-and-chrome car overturns--turns and turns and turns!--in a snow-drifted field north of Tydeman's Corners Legs Sadovsky will have driven eleven miles from Eddy's Smoke Shop on Fairfax Avenue, six wild miles with the Highway Patrol cop in pursuit bearing up swiftly when the highway is clear and the girls are hysterical with excitement squealing and clutching one another thrown from side to side as Legs grimaces sighting the bridge ahead, it's one of those old-fashioned nightmare bridges with a steep narrow ramp, narrow floor made of planks but there's no time for hesitation Legs isn't going to use the brakes, she's shrewd, reasoning too that the cop will have to slow down, the fucker'll be cautious thus she'll have several seconds advantage won't she?--several seconds can make quite a difference in a contest like this so the Buick's rushing up the ramp, onto the bridge, the front wheels strike and spin and seem at first to be lifting in decorous surprise Oh! oh but astonishingly the car holds, it's a heavy machine of power that seems almost intelligent until flying off the bridge hitting a patch of slick part-melted ice the car swerves, now the rear wheels appear to be lifting, there's a moment when all effort ceases, all gravity ceases, the Buick a vessel of screams as it lifts, floats, it's being flung into space how weightless! Maddy's eyes are open now, she'll remember all her life this Now, now how without consequence! as the car hits the earth again, yet rebounds as if still weightless, turning, spinning, a machine bearing flesh, bones, girls' breaths plunging and sliding and rolling and skittering like a giant hard-shelled insect on its back, now righting itself again, now again on its back, crunching hard, snow shooting through the broken windows and the roof collapsing inward as if crushed by a giant hand upside-down and the motor still gunning as if it's frantic to escape, they're buried in a cocoon of bluish white and there's a sound of whimpering, panting,sobbing, a dog's puppyish yipping and a strong smell of urine and Legs is crying breathlessly half in anger half in exultation, caught there behind the wheel unable to turn, to look around, to see, "Nobody's dead--right?" Nobody's dead.””

Joyce Carol Oates

About This Quote

Source Novel: Unknown, contemporary thriller

A frantic chase scene where a driver uses daring maneuvers to evade pursuers, highlighting risk, speed, and desperation.

In simple terms: A high‑speed escape on a dangerous bridge.

Key Takeaway

Take bold, calculated risks when needed.

Themes

danger speed desperation risk adrenaline

Mood

tense excited dangerous

Type

dramatic action

When to use this quote

  • highway chase
  • snowy bridge
  • car crash
  • adrenaline rush
  • survival scenario

Key Concepts

pursuit physics human instinct survival

Questions to Reflect On

  • What would you do if faced with a life‑or‑death chase?
  • How does thrill‑seeking affect decision making?
A Different Perspective

The narrative glorifies reckless driving, ignoring safety and legal consequences.

4.6 out of 5 (8 ratings)

More by Joyce Carol Oates

Explore all 658 Joyce Carol Oates quotes

More Action quotes

Browse all 14,940 Action quotes