Can snippets of dialogue be used well in one or two sentences of backstory?

[carole gill]

Or is it not good in your opinion?
I'm revising now--and it's very easy for me to just cut it
out--but I'm wondering about it. Perhaps it gives a more insightful view of the character recalling a tiny bit of conversation.
There is over all, almost no backstory apart from a sentence or two sparsely placed.
Yes, it has to relate to the story and to move the plot along--but can it also be enriching?
Opinions please?

[I. J. Parker]

Why shouldn't there be dialogue in backstory? If a character remembers the words, they must have had meaning.

[carole gill]

True I.J.
And thanks.

[John Dishon]

Yeah, I agree with I.J. Don't buy in to that linear if-it-doesn't-advance-the-plot-then-cut-it philosophy. Plot is meaningless without solid characters, and in order to develop your characters, you've got to let them breathe. If you like it, keep it.

[carole gill]

thanks John.
Good reply.
You're right.

[Jon McGoran as D. H. Dublin]

I agree, too. I think dialogue -- natural, in-character dialogue -- is almost always preferable to just plain exposition. To me, it's more like the reader is experiencing omething haopning rather than being told it happened.
(How ya been, anyway?)

[carole gill]

Fine! FINE? did I say fine?!
Actually, I'm in the midst of revision and one huge pre nervous breakdown, but other than that I'm just tttttterriffffficccc!
seriously, thanks for that. I agree too. been thinking about it.
It is more interesting actually. don't know why I questioned it--was too gung ho on cutting things out on the weekend!
thanks for that!

[Dan Coleman]

The only thing you should consider is whether, as a reader, you would enjoy or benefit from it in some way. If the answer is yes, so should others, and so you should do it.

[carole gill]

thanks DAn.
makes good sense.
i'm getting more sure of my revising now--although it's scary!
I