Dragonwings Principles Quotes

How we cite our quotes: Citations follow this format: (Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #7

She pressed her lips together for a moment, as if she were deciding something. "We must get those people out."

"It would take four of us weeks to clear tunnels for them,"
Father said.

"We'll draft help. After all, we were put on this earth to help one another," Miss Whitlaw said. (9.62-64)

Miss Whitlaw shows her magnanimous instinct to always think of others in the destruction after the earthquake.

Quote #8

It was a wonder to watch Miss Whitlaw sail up the block and gather people behind her like a hen collecting her chicks. In her gentlest but firmest way, she gathered up the surviving demons and set them in work crews to clearing the mounds from which people were calling.

Watching her with open admiration, Father shook his head. "Now just look at her." For myself, I could not help thinking that she had missed her vocation as a shanghaier. (9.87-88)

Miss Whitlaw's persistence in looking out for others' needs is an inspiration for Moon Shadow, who assists his father without resentment in a way that would make Miss Whitlaw proud.

Quote #9

"There's a whole city in ruins, and more of his kind willing to take advantage of others' misery," he explained. He touched the club in his belt. "But there's no helping other people's souls. We can only try to help the people trapped inside the rubble." (9.125)

Windrider is disappointed at healthy civilians who do not join the effort to help fellow survivors. He reflects that he can only control what he chooses to do.