How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph.Page)
Quote #1
The questions from those wise-ass students masquerading as earnest young go-getters. Why didn't you anticipate the popularity of BMX bikes? And what about mountain bikes? You got murdered there. Was it a mistake to have shopped out all the labor to China? This coming from kids whose experience with business was summer lawn-cutting. (VI.57.49)
Alan's response to the cheeky MBA students feels hostile, but it's clear that he doesn't have an answer for them—or himself. While he tries to make himself feel better by saying that "hindsight is 20/20," Alan really understands that he's made some dodgy choices in his professional life. And while it's true that the young students are sniping from a place of safety, Alan admits in other places that he has done major damage to himself and the economy with his actions.
Quote #2
"Do you ever feel like you might have done it differently?"
"Me? Personally?"
"Well, whatever part you might have played. Might it have worked out differently? Was there a way Schwinn might have survived?"
Might have. Might have. Alan parsed the words. He would bludgeon the man if he used these words again. (VI. 63-66.51)
In this conversation with Karim, Alan runs up against a familiar question: what was your part in all of this? He wants to beat Karim because he hits a very tender spot. Alan finds himself in a bad situation here. So much of what happened in his past professional life was out of his control—but not all of it. This exchange with the perfect-looking young Karim brings that personal responsibility before his eyes yet again.
Quote #3
Alan drove on.
But Charlie stepped in deeper. He did it slowly. Other neighbors saw him up to his knees, his waist. No one said anything. (VIII.3-4.59)
Alan feels a lot of guilt over his friend Charlie's death. And rightly so, as he simply drove past the man who would drown himself shortly after. As in so many other cases, Alan just can't read the signs. He doesn't understand how dire the situation is until after his opportunity to act has past.