How we cite our quotes: Line
Quote #7
Never / could I make correct celestial discoveries / except by thus suspending my mind, and mixing / my subtle head with the air it's kindred with. / If down below I contemplate what's up, / I'd never find aught; for the earth by natural force / draws unto itself the quickening moisture of thought. / The very same process is observable in lettuce. (228-234)
When Strepsiades finally meets Socrates, he finds the maestro hanging in the air in a basket. Apparently, Socrates thinks better while suspended in the air; he says that the earth drains out his thoughts like moisture, whereas his head and thoughts become "kindred with" the air in the sky when he's elevated. Hmm, comparing your thoughts to water vapor doesn't exactly make the best case for your school of thought, Socky.
Quote #8
Just to hear their voices makes my very soul take wing and fly, / makes me long to chop some logic, blow some elocutive smoke, / bust big maxims with little maxims, counterpoint an argument! / Time to see the ladies close up; I'm ready now, if now's the time! (319-322)
When Strepsiades first hears the Clouds, he gets super excited about learning the Thinkery's lessons. We'd dig the enthusiasm for learning and philosophy, if only he were, you know, doing it for anything but dishonest reasons.
Quote #9
What a moron! You're a throwback, truly a neanderthal. / Punish perjurers? Then how come Simon isn't lightning-struck? / Or Cleonymus, or Theorus? They're as perjured as can be! / No, instead he usually zaps his very own temple at Sunion, / his own great oak-trees too. What for? The oak-trees can't be perjurers! (398-402)
During one of their many lessons, Socrates goes after Strepsiades for failing to grasp his lessons and philosophy. So, he calls him names. Not a very teacherly thing to do, if you ask us.