How we cite our quotes: (Volume.Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
She [Mrs. Elphinstone] had never been out of England before, she would rather die than trust herself friendless in a foreign country, and so forth. She seemed, poor woman, to imagine that the French and the Martians might prove very similar. (1.17.13)
We just threw this one in because it's funny. But why is it funny? (We like to ruin jokes by asking how they work.) For one thing, it's clear that the Martians and the French aren't really all that similar – there are totally different levels of foreignness here. For another, Mrs. Elphinstone is confusing something mildly foreign (the French) with something totally foreign (the Martians), simply because they are both different from what she's used to. Really, though, Mrs. Elphinstone will get along fine enough with the French. Does that mean it's possible that people could get along with the Martians, too, given some time?
Quote #8
To me it is quite credible that the Martians may be descended from beings not unlike ourselves… (2.2.21)
This is a great quote. The narrator starts the book with the idea that the Martians are totally different than humans (their minds are so much better than ours and they look so different). Then moves on to the idea that maybe we do share some similarities. And now, the big reveal: while the Martians seem so monstrous to us, it's possible that we will evolve into them.
Quote #9
They have become practically mere brains, wearing different bodies according to their needs just as men wear suits of clothes and take a bicycle in a hurry or an umbrella in the wet. (2.2.25)
Okay, even if we might be related to the Martians – even if we might evolve into them – we should admit that there are still some big differences. After all, humans are not "mere brains." However, just as soon as the narrator opens up that difference, he makes the connection between us and Martians: we all use technology to adapt to different situations. (Also, as you probably gathered from "Setting," we love it whenever the narrator mentions bicycles.)