How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
"In Connie's time it was thought some people who were good at some things, like a couple of the arts and sciences, should do nothing else."
"That must have made them a little stupid," Luciente said. "A little simple, you grasp? And self-important!" (13.87)
In Mattapoisett, everyone has to participate in jobs like raising food, or cleaning, or various other tasks. Luciente argues that specializing makes people stupid and self-important. Economic arrangements affect people's moral selves, and moral actions.
Quote #8
"But Connie, in your day only huge corporations and the Pentagon had money enough to pay for big science. Don't you think that had an effect on what people worked on? Sweet petunias! And what we do comes down on everybody. We use up a confounded lot of resources. Scarce materials. Energy. We have to account. There's only one pool of air to breathe." (14.60)
Scientists should be responsible to the rest of society. Also, if you're going to curse, you should always say, "Sweet petunias!" It's a cute phrase… and it's the way of the future.
Quote #9
It is all right for me to beg and crawl and wheedle because I am at war. They will see how I forgive. That made her feel stronger. (18.101)
People often excuse all sorts of things—like dropping bombs on children—on the grounds that they're at war. It's not clear whether we're supposed to find Connie's excuse here convincing or not. What war is she fighting? Against whom?