How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #4
I found myself saying, "You will, you will. These snakes don't know you find death inconceivable. They don't know you're young and strong and you think death applies to everyone but you. They will bite and you will die." (27.58)
Eventually, Jack gets fed up with Orest Mercator's casual attitude toward death. For Jack, it's necessary for everyone to think about death the same way he does, so he chews out Orest for being dumb. The only way he can make sense of Orest is to think that Orest is an ignorant kid who thinks he'll never die. Jack thinks it's his duty to tell it like it is and get up in Orest's face about the cold reality of death.
Quote #5
"I hate to be the one who says it, Jack, but there's something that has to be said."
"What?"
"Better you than me." (37.190)
Murray tells it like it is. He's not totally pumped that his friend Jack is dying, but he's definitely relieved that Jack is dying instead of him. For Murray, the most important quality a person can have is honesty. And when it comes to dying, the fact is (according to Murray) that people would always rather watch someone else die than die themselves.
Quote #6
"In what way is [Wilder] free from limits?"
"He doesn't know he's going to die. He doesn't know death at all. You cherish this simpleton blessing of his, this exemption from harm." (37.129)
Jack and Babette both adore Wilder. They love him especially because the kid is too young to realize that he's going to die someday. In this book, you might even say the main difference between children and adults is that adults know they're going to die, but kids don't. Jack and Babette both envy Wilder's naïveté.