How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
At that moment, in the sunset on Watership Down, there was offered to General Woundwort the opportunity to show whether he was really the leader of vision and genius which he believed himself to be, or whether he was no more than a tyrant with the courage and cunning of a pirate. For one beat of his pulse the lame rabbit's idea shone clearly before him. He grasped it and realized what it meant. The next, he had pushed it away from him. (43.37)
This is the only time we hear the word "tyrant" (or "pirate") in this book, and the narrator makes the case pretty clear: if Woundwort refuses Hazel's idea to start up a new warren between Watership Down and Efrafa, then he's just a tyrant. Of course, he is a tyrant, so he refuses. But he is tempted by that idea for "one beat of his pulse." You may interpret this differently, but this moment reminds us that Woundwort isn't totally a jerk. (He's just mostly a jerk.)
Quote #8
What he had learned from all his experience of fighting was that nearly always there are those who want to fight and those who do not but feel they cannot avoid it. More than once he had fought alone and imposed his will on crowds of other rabbits. He held down a great warren with the help of a handful of devoted officers. (46.53)
Woundwort isn't just a bully. But whatever other qualities he has, he still is a bully, who rose to power because of how much he likes fighting and violence. That's another reason why other rabbits follow him (because he'll beat them up if they don't), but it doesn't make him seem like a great leader.
Quote #9
"My Chief Rabbit has told me to defend this run and until he says otherwise I shall stay here." (47.55)
Bigwig started out the book almost like a bully himself. For instance, when Hawkbit and the other rabbits talk about going home, Bigwig yells at them and even bites (11.3). And he even doesn't like taking orders even from the Threarah. But by the end of the book, Bigwig is willing to sacrifice himself to save his home, and all because his Chief Rabbit told him to. Talk about a turn around.