How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
"Well!" said Willbury, rather sternly. "I don't think I approve at all. Our friends the boxtrolls have a rather strange attitude toward ownership." (5.34)
When Arthur first meets Willbury and the boxtrolls, Willbury makes introductions all around. He can't help himself, and has to comment on the fact that boxtrolls tend to "liberate" other people's belongings, without regard for their ownership. It seems like boxtrolls have a different sense of rules about property than humans do. And besides, boxtrolls use their stolen goods to keep the Underworld waterworks maintained… but does that make stealing okay in the first place?
Quote #2
Then Willbury gave Arthur a rather disapproving look. "Mind you, I don't hold with taking other people's things. None of this would have happened if you hadn't helped yourself to that lady's bananas." (7.25)
Turns out Arthur doesn't always follow the rules when it comes to ownership either. His gathering expedition, which leads to the run-in with the banana lady, is what gets him into trouble with Snatcher in the first place. Willbury, who of course is a huge rules-follower because he's a lawyer, apparently couldn't keep himself from commenting on this situation.
Quote #3
"Marjorie took her application and prototype of some new invention of hers for approval, but the man who was checking them went for lunch with them. And never came back. Now Marjorie's stuck there—if she leaves the queue, she could lose her invention forever!" (12.34)
Mr. Whitworth gives Willbury and Arthur this summary of why Marjorie's been held up at the Patent Hall for so long. It seems like there are a lot of rules involved in trying to get your invention patented. Poor Marjorie followed all the rules, but since there may have been foul play, she doesn't have any options to try to get her invention back, without risking losing everything. It's a major bummer.