How we cite our quotes: Paragraph (P#) or Line (Line #)
Quote #1
"Well, at my first setting out, I had hopes of that man; but now I fear he will perish in the overthrow of the City, for it is happened to him according to the true Proverb, The Dog is turned to his Vomit again, and the Sow that was washed to her wallowing in the Mire." (P361)
Not the most appetizing of proverbs either, is it? Christian uses it here in conversation with Faithful to describe the character of Pliable. The irony of Pliable is that while his goal is to please people and butter them up, he ends up being ridiculed by those very people. Pliable is a good example of a larger truth in the book: it's impossible to please everyone.
Quote #2
"He objected also, that but few of the Mighty, Rich, or Wise, were ever of my opinion; nor any of them neither, before they were persuaded to be Fools, and to be of a voluntary fondness to venture the loss of all, for nobody else knows what." (P395)
This quote comes from Faithful's account of Shame's argument against religion. The "foolishness" of religion, for Shame, is particularly in the last italicized portion of the quote. It's a risk of one's interests (since one is investing them in faith instead of politics or power), but it's a risk that specifically "nobody else" will understand. This is sort of key to why Bunyan is putting this argument in the mouth of Shame. His fear is of the shame and ridicule, the foolish appearance, that would be attributed to him for investing in something that the world did not understand.
Quote #3
Faithful: Do you know him then
Christian: Know him! Yes, better than he knows himself.
Faithful: Pray what is he?
Christian: His name is Talkative; he dwelleth in our Town: I wonder that you should be a stranger to him, only I consider that our Town is large. (P422-426)
Having encountered Talkative, Christian here informs Faithful of his reputation. This is a good example of how reputations (and paying attention to them) are helpful to the pilgrims. Because they know better, they know not to take Talkative's talk at face-value.