Nathaniel Ayers Quotes in The Soloist (2009)

Nathaniel Ayers: Beauty is art; music is beauty.

Nathaniel Ayers: [going to sleep] Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. Just keep it coming. There's plenty. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.

Steve Lopez: [narrating] I knew only part of his story. I knew him playing the violin on a dairy crate in the morning sun, suspended somewhere between boy genius and lost traveler. Every night my friend Nathaniel tucks his instruments away and lays his head among the predators and hustlers, among the fallen drunks sprawled in the streets, as rats the size of meatloaves dart out of the drains to feed off the squalor.

Nathaniel Ayers: Lead us not into temptation. For thine is kingdom, the power and the glory, forever. Forever and ever.

Steve Lopez: [narrating] I tell him this is no place for him. He says he wants to be here. He says this is his choice. Should I take him at his word, or should I try to force him inside? Wouldn't a little arm-twisting be more humane than leaving him here on the streets in this lost colony of broken, helpless souls?

Nathaniel Ayers: I hope you sleep well, Mr. Lopez. I hope the whole world sleeps well.

Nathaniel Ayers: So, you guys are basically united by non-belief.

Atheist: That's right.

Nathaniel Ayers: Yeah. So, do you non-gather? And non-worship?

Atheist: We tried, but uh...

Nathaniel Ayers: Not a lot to talk about.

Atheist: Yeah... Now we have a website.

Nathaniel Ayers: Swell.

Atheist: [speechless]

Nathaniel Ayers: Anything else you don't believe in?

Nathaniel Ayers: You can't hold down angels.

Nathaniel Ayers: Gotta put rosin on your bow. It's just like feeding a parakeet. A bow needs rosin just like a police car needs prisoners.

Graham Claydon: Nothing pains God more than when we squander his blessings. You owe it to Him to care for this...

Nathaniel Ayers: I don't owe God. Mr. Steve Lopez is my god.

Steve Lopez: What?

Nathaniel Ayers: Star Writer for Los Angeles. Higher power flying around with wings like an angel.

Steve Lopez: There's papers you gotta sign. They just back back from... And you should them so you know what you're signing.

Nathaniel Ayers: All right, you know, I'll just sign them Nathaniel Anthony Ayers, Jr., apartment B-116, and the B stands for Beethoven.