How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Page)
Quote #4
I was training a crowd of ignorant folk into experts—experts in every sort of handiwork and scientific calling. These nurseries of mine went smoothly and privately along undisturbed in their obscure country retreats (10.1)
He's making people smarter… and yet he has to stay quiet about it. It speaks to a lot of the problems in Arthur's kingdom: fear and superstition, oppression, class warfare, and Merlin's general sneaky bastard tendencies. It also suggests that Hank needs to take his time in addressing them and move quietly lest he spook the herd.
Quote #5
He was a darling; he was equal to anything; there wasn't anything he couldn't turn his hand to. (10.4)
Hank is talking about Clarence here, and specifically about his capabilities. Why does Hank struggle to educate and enlighten the other characters when Clarence betters himself so quickly? The cynical part of us thinks it was easier for Twain to handle the plot that way (since Clarence is basically Hank's Mini-Me), but it might also be evidence that Hank's task isn't hopeless, just very difficult.
Quote #6
Everybody swallowed these people's lies whole, and never asked a question of any sort or about anything. (11.1)
Knowledge and wisdom here comes from more than book learning. After all, curiosity—the ability to question what you're told—doesn't require an education. Hank's lament here is the lack of curiosity in the people. If you haven't seen a fire-breathing dragon, maybe you should look into their existence before freaking out about them…