How we cite our quotes: (Volume.Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
"Our notions are somewhat enlarged since those days," said M. Quesnel; "What was then thought a decent style of living would not now be endured." (1.1.36)
Dude has a point, even if he's a greedy bugger. St. Aubert's been living in some pretty primitive conditions with his family for some time, ignoring the fact that there's an outside world. Get with the times, buddy.
Quote #2
She wished her niece to marry ambitiously, not because she desired to see her in possession of the happiness, which rank and wealth are usually believed to bestow, but because she desired to partake the importance, which such an alliance would give. (1.12.86)
It's kinda hard to wrap our minds around the narrator's attitude toward wealth and greed here. Rank and wealth are "believed to bestow" happiness, but does the narrator really buy this?
Quote #3
Of this kind was the habit of gaming, which he had adopted, first, for the purpose of relieving him from the languor of inaction, but had since pursued with the ardour of passion. (2.3.1)
If there's one pursuit that all the greedy guys take up, it's gotta be gambling. But Montoni's reasons for gambling aren't just greed—it also has a lot to do with boredom.