How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Section.Paragraph)
Quote #1
After vacation, in late January, he found that whisky relieved him from the frenzy of work, from the terror of loneliness—then betrayed him and left him the more weary, the more lonely. (8.3.7)
Martin often turns to alcohol in order to help soothe the pain of his dissatisfaction. His pain seems to be a combination of loneliness, insecurity, and the overall feeling that he hasn't accomplished as much as he should have. That probably sounds familiar to many of us.
Quote #2
In the presence of a Napoleon like Clif and a Gladstone like George F. Babbitt, Martin perceived his own lack of power and business skill, and when he had returned to Mohalis he was restless. (9.1.15)
Martin usually feels okay about his choice to dedicate his life to science. But when he hangs out with wheelers and dealers who have all kinds of money to throw around, he begins to wonder whether he's taken the right path in life.
Quote #3
"Oh, he's awfully optimistic—he puts things over—he—Oh, Leora, am I going to be a sour, cranky, unpopular, rotten failure again?" (19.2.31)
After failing at his first job as a doctor, Martin worries that it's his destiny to always be a bitter crank who can't take pleasure in anything. In times like these, he looks to Leora for reassurance.
Quote #4
Gradually Martin's contemplation moved beyond Almus Pickerbaugh to all leaders, of armies or empires, of universities or churches, and he saw that most of them were Pickerbaughs. (21.2.20)
Martin realizes a sad truth while living in Nautilus. Great scientists might make important discoveries, but it's the dudes who do the most self-promoting who end up taking credit. Basically, it's not good enough to just be good at your job. You need to spend 90% of your time focusing on what people think of you.
Quote #5
Damn these old men, damn these Men of Measured Merriment, these Important Men that come and offer you honors. Money. Decorations. Titles. Want to make you windy with authority. (29.1.79)
Martin realizes by the end of the book that he could easily become a big shot if he wanted to. But the truth is that he finds no one more boring and empty than the wealthy elite. He'd much rather live and work in a shack in Vermont.
Quote #6
When Martin entered the Institute, his colleagues galloped up to shake hands and to exclaim, and if their praise was flustering, there is no time at which one can stomach so much of it as at home-coming. (36.5.1)
When Martin returns from his successful trip to stop a plague in the Caribbean, he's practically a celebrity in the scientific community. But the guy has also lost his wife, his confidence, and his general sense of direction in life. You can't expect him to revel in his success all that much.
Quote #7
Martin understood that never could he be punished now and cleansed. Gottlieb had sunk into his darkness still trusting him. (36.6.10)
Martin wants to get rid of the guilt he feels over ruining his vaccination experiment in the Caribbean. But he's never able to apologize to Gottlieb because Gottlieb falls deep into dementia before Martin comes back from the trip. Whatever closure Martin was hoping to get, he ain't going to get it from Gottlieb.
Quote #8
Joyce Lanyon was enjoying a conversion. Her St. Hubert experiences and her natural variability had caused her to be dissatisfied with Roger's fast-motoring set. (37.2.1)
At first glance, a beautiful young widow like Joyce Lanyon should want nothing to do with a crabby-pants like Martin. But Joyce is a little dissatisfied with her life of money and luxury, mostly because she finds this life repetitive and boring.
Quote #9
"No—I, uh, well, I shouldn't much care to be Director. I prefer sticking to my lab. I—Perhaps you'd like to hear about my work on phage." (39.1.18)
When Martin gets offered the job of Director at the McGurk Institute, he's put in a tough position. Everyone knows that this is a prestigious and high-paying job, but all Martin wants is to be left alone to work in his lab. Being the director would require him to do a whole bunch of administrative stuff he'd rather not have to bother with.
Quote #10
They flocked from the house to his laboratory only once a week, which was certainly not enough to disturb a resolute man—merely enough to keep him constantly waiting for them. (39.4.4)
Joyce is so supportive of Martin's science experiments that she builds him a fancy lab to work in at home. But this lab quickly becomes a sort of zoo exhibit for Joyce's rich friends, who like to pass by the lab and watch Martin working. It's not the most fulfilling situation for Martin.