Misquote note: This quote often appears as “Chicago is an October sort of city even in the spring.” Although Algren is clearly referencing Chicago in the book, the word ‘Chicago’ – and the word “the” – do not actually appear in his original sentence.

Extended excerpt [Book-length essay on Chicago]:

“An October sort of city even in spring. With somebody’s washing always whipping, in smoky October colors off the third-floor rear by that same wind that drives the yellowing comic strips down all the gutters that lead away from home.” (p. 86)

Source: Library – Chicago: City on the Make (1951) Online Computer Library Center (OCLC) No. 916544308

Extended excerpt [Fiction – Chapter three – ‘Cross-Country Kline’ to ‘Dove Linkhorn.’ ]

“But blow wise to this, buddy, blow wise to this: Never play cards with a man called Doc. Never eat at a place called Mom’s. Never sleep with a woman whose troubles are worse than your own. Never let nobody talk you into shaking another man’s jolt. And never you cop another man’s plea. I’ve tried ‘em all and I know. They don’t work.

Life is hard by the yard, son. But you don’t have to do it by the yard. By the inch it’s a cinch. And money can’t buy everything. For example: poverty.” (p. 312)

Source: Editor’s copy – A Walk on the Wild Side (1956|1998 Farrar, Straus & Giroux 1st paperback ed.) International Standard Book Number (ISBN) 0-374-52532-3

Misquote note: A quick Internet check reveals that there are more than a few hybrid varieties of Algren’s “Never play cards” advice in circulation today. Two of the most frequent quotation mistakes: A change the order of the advice, and a switch from Algren’s “sleep with a woman whose troubles are greater than your own” to “go to bed with a woman whose troubles are greater than your own.”

Original A Walk on the Wild Side text: “Never play cards with a man called Doc. Never eat at a place called Mom’s. Never sleep with a woman whose troubles are worse than your own.”

Misquote/paraphrase: “Never eat at a place called Mom’s. Never play cards with a man called Doc. Never got to bed with a woman whose troubles are greater than your own.”

Extended excerpt [Fiction – Chapter three – ‘Cross-Country Kline’ to ‘Dove Linkhorn.’ ]

“But blow wise to this, buddy, blow wise to this: Never play cards with a man called Doc. Never eat at a place called Mom’s. Never sleep with a woman whose troubles are worse than your own. Never let nobody talk you into shaking another man’s jolt. And never you cop another man’s plea. I’ve tried ‘em all and I know. They don’t work.

Life is hard by the yard, son. But you don’t have to do it by the yard. By the inch it’s a cinch. And money can’t buy everything. For example: poverty.” (p. 312)

Source: Editor’s copy – A Walk on the Wild Side (1956|1998 Farrar, Straus & Giroux 1st paperback ed.) International Standard Book Number (ISBN) 0-374-52532-3