How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
"That's what we fought Hitler for, after all. If Hitler had things his way, we'd just be slaves now. The whole world would be a few masters and millions upon millions of slaves. And I don't need to remind anyone here, there's no dignity to be had in being a slave." (6.238)
Mr. Smith, a villager Stevens encounters on his journey, draws a clear line between democratic English society and Hitler's Nazi state. We see here an ordinary man who seems to have a better understanding of politics than Lord Darlington. The word "dignity" ties this quote right back to Stevens's reflections on professionalism. For more, see our discussion of the theme "Principles (Duty, Dignity, Professionalism)."
Quote #8
[…] the likes of you and I will never be in a position to comprehend the great affairs of today's world, and our best course will always be to put our trust in an employer we judge to be wise and honorable. (6.346)
This statement is ironic in a way that Stevens doesn't seem at all conscious of, given everything he has told us about Lord Darlington's flirtation with anti-Semitism. Contrast this attitude with Mr. Smith's in Quote #7.
Quote #9
"[…] Well, I have to say, Stevens, that American chap was quite right. It's a fact of life. Today's world is too foul a place for fine and noble instincts. […]" (7.176)
The American senator was portrayed as an unsympathetic, shifty character earlier in the novel. But here Mr. Cardinal seems to find some truth in his words, as he worries about Lord Darlington's dealings with Herr Ribbentrop, the German ambassador.