"It would be a dull world if we all thought alike."
This quote captures the essence of the novel. The main point of the novel is to approach this urbane British society in a satirical way and essentially tear it down. What this quote is saying is that the world would lose a lot of its appeal and charisma and the qualities that make it a wonderful place if everybody in society thought and acted the same exact way. If everyone follows the status quo and conforms to society's demands, it would be a bad thing instead of a good thing. This is the idea that directly opposes the society in the novel, one that demands that everyone follow the same line of thinking and should act in a similar manner.
“A wonderfully congenial group who live by a unique set of social standards. According to their rules, any sin is acceptable provided it is carried off in good taste.”
This quote is once more a critique of the snobbish British society that characterizes the novel and in this way captures the central meaning of the novel and author's purpose. The quote is stating that certain groups in society, usually the ones who are nobles and hold large amounts of wealth, often create these unique and often absurd social rules and standards that people must abide by to be civilized and a proper member of society. These rules are often don't make much logical sense and can actually be sinful or morally incorrect, but as long as the ruling upper class agrees with it and finds it to be in "good taste," that social standard becomes an acceptable part of society. The quote sarcastically points this fact out to the reader, exemplifying the hypocrisy of the dominant social classes and calling them out for their sinful and immoral behavior.
"Comparisons are odious."
As can be found with the previous two quotes from the author's book, this quote focuses on the social hierarchy and proceedings that dominate the urbane British society of the novel. This criticism is the purpose of the novel and this quote is important because it fulfills that purpose in an exemplary way. The quote points out that comparisons are distasteful and often ill-founded, bearing the heavy weight of malice on their backs. This is because a fundamental basis of the society in the novel is comparisons. Comparisons between what people wear, comparisons between what people eat, comparisons between how people act, comparisons between where people travel, comparisons between how people talk, and the list goes on till eternity. These comparisons could be considered 'gossip' in modern terms. As the narrator points out, these comparisons, this fundamental basis of the society, provide only hatred and malice towards other people. Comparisons mean putting one individual and their actions below that of the other members of the populace and further ridiculing that individual.
