How we cite our quotes: (Part.Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
"And the people are children, you must know that, you must know their psychology. Here a special approach is needed. You must know how to touch their best, most sensitive strings, so that they begin to sound." (5.5.19)
When Commisar Gintz shows up at the World War I front, he thinks that he'll be able to convince a bunch of revolting soldiers to return to their posts without a peep. What gives him this idea? Well, he's an educated dude who thinks that people are basically children who can be swayed if you know how to speak to them properly. Unfortunately for Gintz, this isn't the case, and he ends up getting murdered by a mob.
Quote #2
"What can I do? Try it yourself. He's in charge." (5.10.11)
In a world of power hierarchies, everyone loves to pass the buck. In other words, it's really easy to shirk your responsibilities when there's always someone more powerful above you. That way, you can just say, "Hey, my hands are tied. Go talk to the dude in charge."
Quote #3
People in the cities were helpless as children in the face of the approaching unknown, which overturned all established habits in its way and left devastation behind it, though it was itself a child of the city and the creation of city dwellers. (6.5.3)
When revolution sweeps across Russia, people barely know what's going on. All they know is that something way larger than them is happening, and that it'll eventually consume every aspect of their daily lives. That's exactly what happens.