How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
As far as an Armenian from Bitlis was concerned, Bitlis was the center of the world: Her mountains were the highest, her soil the most fertile, her woman the loveliest, her men the bravest, her leaders the wisest. (1.3)
At first Vahan loves his heritage and where he's from, and is proud of them both, but as time goes on, Vahan hides the fact that he's Armenian. Is this just for show (so he doesn't get caught and killed), or does he want to hide it from himself?
Quote #2
He called me a coward, he called my people animals and traitors. And I said nothing. I stared at the ground and waited for him to go away. (18.4)
The soldier who brings Vahan his tray of food each night hates Armenians and makes no secret of it. Just because Selim Bey is protecting Vahan doesn't mean his men like it, and they make it known to him too.
Quote #3
"In this world," he told me, "there is no such thing as a country or a flag or a right or wrong cause. There is only yourself. You are your own flag, your own cause and country. In the end, if you are poor and cold and hungry, no one will care if you were a patriot, or an honest man. All they will see is a beggar, an unsuccessful animal. Do you understand?" (18.32)
Selim Bey likes to offer advice to Vahan, even though they're on opposite sides of the war. What's telling though, is that his advice is basically every man for himself—so in some ways, it's really more of a warning than anything else.