“Honor is based on actions, not words.”
This quote appears in the beginning of the novel and it is told by Taryn to Creighton. This quote is extremely important because it can be used to summarize the entire novel and the general attitude the rest of the characters had towards such things as the importance of having a healthy attitude towards life and towards the idea of keeping one’s word. The vast majority of the characters try to live by these words, even if it means suffering as a result or having to pay with their life.
“He always thought of his countrymen as something like the standard-bearers of civilization.”
Jayne admired Benjamin Franklin and is someone who can be described as a follower because of the way she accepts Franklin’s ideas and philosophy when it comes to life. Jayne also insists that those who fight for the independence of the American colony must behave in an honorable way, no matter the circumstance and she gives as an argument the quote from above. For her and for many characters in the novel, giving up their moral high ground is not worth it, even if this means gaining benefits along the way.
