How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Page)
Quote #7
Wherever you find a king who can't cure the king's-evil you can be sure that the most valuable superstition that supports his throne—the subject's belief in the divine appointment of his sovereign—has passed away. (26.6)
In the legends, Arthur is appointed divinely and the divine right of kings stood as the law of the land in the Middle Ages. Twain clearly doesn't think much of it.
Quote #8
This distressed the monks and terrified them. They were not used to hearing these awful beings called names, and they did not know what might be the consequence. (24.10)
Again Hank shows us the underlying effects of superstition and belief in the supernatural: fear of speaking out means fear of honest debate, which means that ideas can't flourish and civilization doesn't move forward. Twain knew exactly what the problems were.