How we cite our quotes: (Chapter. Paragraph)
Quote #1
"Good. So those are our tactics—to tell no one about the baby, not even Miss Abbott." "Most certainly this is the proper course," said Mrs. Herriton, preferring "course" to "tactics" for Harriet's sake. (5.25)
The Herritons like to believe that they're respectable, honorable members of society, but in reality, they only want to appear to be respectable, honorable members of society. Keeping up appearances is the most important rule in the Herriton household. Their hypocritical behavior is emphasized by the fact that Mrs. Herriton uses the word "course" instead of "tactics," a sign that she's trying to make her actions appear more ethical than they actually are.
Quote #2
"I hated the idleness, the stupidity, the respectability, the petty unselfishness. [...] I had got an idea that every one here spent their lives in making little sacrifices for objects they didn't care for, to please people they didn't love; that they never learnt to be sincere—and, what's as bad, never learnt how to enjoy themselves." (5.64)
Miss Abbott's outpouring in this scene sums up in a nutshell exactly what Forster is criticizing about the hypocrisy of English society: the "petty unselfishness". It's important that Caroline doesn't say petty selfishness. This is the root of English hypocrisy: people like to act as if they're being unselfish, but in truth, they're being petty, insincere and completely self-serving.
Quote #3
He saw that his mother was not sincere. Her insincerity to others had amused him, but it was disheartening when used against himself. (5.146)
Philip experiences the full force of his mother's hypocrisy when Mrs. Herriton decides that he must go to Italy to retrieve the baby. Philip knows that his mother would much rather pretend as if the baby had never been born, but she's so overly concerned about what other people think of her, that she would go so far as to adopt the child just to keep tongues from wagging.