How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #4
But President Barbicane, who cared little for such marvels, was anxious to get on. The very fertility of the country was displeasing to him. (13.35)
In all honesty, Barbicane has little interest in the natural world, except as far as it helps him complete his experiments. What a weirdo. To him, nature is far less wondrous than the scientific achievements of mankind.
Quote #5
Women, children, and old men, all considered it their duty to penetrate the mysteries of the colossal gun to the very bottom of the bore. (16.22)
Here, Verne uses religious imagery to describe a scientific marvel. In the past, the only "mysteries" contemplated by regular folk were religious in nature. Now, however, we see these people looking to science as their guiding force.
Quote #6
Isolated individuals formed themselves into groups, the groups thickened under the action of curiosity like atoms in virtue of molecular attraction. (18.11)
In this passage, Verne uses scientific jargon to describe the actions of a group of people. Again, this illustrates how science is the primary lens through which he views the world—it also sets standards for science fiction novels that are still upheld to this day.