All of childhood's unanswered questions must finally be passed back to the town and answered there. Heroes and bogey men, values and dislikes, are first encountered and labeled in that early environment. In later years they change faces, places and maybe races, tactics, intensities and goals, but beneath those penetrable masks they wear forever the stocking-capped faces of childhood.

Summary

This quote suggests that the experiences and influences of our childhood play a fundamental role in shaping our identity and beliefs. The quote emphasizes how the people we encounter, the values we learn, and the fears we develop during childhood leave a lasting impact on us. It suggests that as we grow older, these influences may manifest in different forms, but deep down, they continue to shape who we are as individuals. The metaphor of "stocking-capped faces of childhood" implies that our core identity is anchored in childhood experiences and remains with us throughout our lives.

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