Quote 1
"I am the law, I am the justice!" he said. "I am the oppressed, and they are the oppressor! It is because of them that everything I loved, cherished, venerated—county, wife, children, parents—perished as I watched! Everything I hate is there! Keep quiet!" (2.21.59)
Here, Nemo seems to have lost sight of the specificity of the actual warship that's attacking him. It's not really a ship anymore, it's a symbol for all of the atrocities that have been perpetrated against him. This is yet another sign that our man Nemo's gone off the deep end (haha) of hatred, straight down into Crazy Town.
Quote 2
"So let me tell you that you will not regret the time spent on board my vessel. You are going to travel through a wonderland. Astonishment and stupefaction will probably be your normal state of mind. You will not easily become blasé about the sights continually offered to your eyes. I am going to embark on a new underwater tour of the world—who knows, perhaps the last?—and revisit everything I have studied on my many travels; and you will be my study companion. Starting today, you will enter a new element, you will see what no man has ever seen before (for my men and I no longer count); and our planet, through my efforts, will deliver up its last secrets." (1.10.48)
Nemo makes it sound as though he has been to the edge of the universe and back, you know, as though he's seen what lives at Earth's final frontier. He certainly makes the trip seem like a lot of fun. Who do you think he's really trying to convince here: his new captive shipmates, or himself?
Quote 3
"Monsieur," I said to Captain Nemo, "the honour of being the first to set foot on this land belongs to you."
"Indeed, monsieur," replied the captain, "it will bring me great joy to be the first man to leave footprints on this Polar ground." (2.14.10-11)
For someone who hates on dictators and despots, Nemo sure is fond of sticking his flag into things. We think leaders who desperately want to claim new lands for themselves are pretty egotistical, if we do say so ourselves.
Quote 4
"Never be of any use!" he replied animatedly. "What makes you believe, monsieur, that these riches must be considered wasted if I collect them? Do you think that it is for my own benefit that I take the trouble to gather these treasures? Who told you that I do not put them to good use? Do you think I am unaware there are suffering beings and oppressed races on this planet, wretches to be helped and victims to be avenged? Don't you understand?" (2.8.75)
Nemo makes sure that Aronnax knows he's not just war-mongering on his own accord. He wants Aronnax to know that he's fighting for the freedom of others. But which "oppressed races" is he talking about? And did these people ever ask Nemo to fight for them?
Quote 5
"Dr. Aronnax," said Captain Nemo, "I will answer you today as I answered you seven months ago: he who enters the Nautilus is destined never to leave again."
"But you are inflicting slavery on us!"
"Give it whatever name you wish."
"But everywhere you go the slave retains the right to regain his freedom! And no holds are barred in how he attempts to do this!"
"Who is depriving you of that right?" replied Captain Nemo. "Have I ever thought of binding you with oaths?" (2.19.52-6)
Even in captivity, Aronnax finds some freedom. Here, he toys with the notion that he is free to escape. But he certainly sits around pondering whether or not to leave the Nautilus for a really long time.