How we cite our quotes: The main text of the story is cited (Chapter.Paragraph). The date headers are not counted as paragraphs. The verses in the chapters with a single passage from the narrator's religious texts are cited (Chapter.Verse.Line#). In chapters with multiple passages, the verses are cited (Chapter.Verse#.Line#). The four section pages with the years and passages are cited (Year.Verse).
Quote #4
"We're a pack, the three of us, and all those other people out there aren't in it. If we're a good pack, and we work together, we have a chance. You can be sure we aren't the only pack out here." (16.29)
Lauren and Zahra turning people away who request help from them leads Harry to question why their three-person group won't be more trusting of strangers. This quotation is part of what Lauren tells him in response. She adopts a real dog-eat-dog kind of mentality shortly after her escape from Robledo, not trusting much of anyone. She's not so much thinking in terms of building an Earthseed community; she's thinking about sheer survival. Later, once she's in a stronger position, she becomes more welcoming of strangers. This suggests that to build community, a person might need to be starting from a decently safe position, rather than a very vulnerable one.
Quote #5
God is neither good
nor evil,
neither loving
nor hating.
God is Power.
God is Change.
We must find the rest of what we need
within ourselves,
in one another,
in our Destiny. (20.Verse.1-10)
This verse of Lauren's tells her audience to find what they need in each other, within their community. Why didn't that strategy work for her very well in Robledo? What's different outside Robledo that makes the strategy start working better?
Quote #6
"But tell me, what do people have to do to be good members of an Earthseed Community?"
[...] "The essentials," I answered, "are to learn to shape God with forethought, care, and work; to educate and benefit their community, their families, and themselves; and to contribute to the fulfillment of the Destiny." (21.21-22)
All right, so here's the charter or mission statement of an Earthseed community, at least as far as Lauren can come up with one as she's walking north as a refugee with Bankole. She says the essentials are to shape God, to help your community and yourself, and to contribute to the Destiny (settling in outer space). Sounds pretty good, right? But are there catches anywhere? For that, you should probably check out Parable of the Talents, this novel's sequel.