How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
He felt no regrets as the work of a lifetime was swept away. He had labored to take man to the stars, and now the stars—aloof, indifferent stars—had come to him. (1.13)
The first sign of the Overlords confining humanity is when the alien invaders won't let people leave Earth and explore space. Sure, that really only confines like fifty people worldwide, but it's a start.
Quote #2
"I do not necessarily quarrel with Federation as an ultimate objective—though many of my supporters might not agree. But it must come from within—not be superimposed from without. We must work out our own destiny. There must be no more interference in human affairs!" (2.23)
Wainwright and Stormgren aren't that different—both want peace—but Stormgren seems totally cool with that peace coming from within the confinements of the Overlords, while Wainwright wants mankind to discover it for itself, free of outside influences. It's one of those do-the-ends-justify-the-means questions people are always going on about.
Quote #3
For Joe had put his finger on the one weak spot in the Overlords' rule. Ultimately, all their orders were carried out by human agents. If these were terrorized into disobedience, the whole system might collapse. (3.59)
For Joe had put his finger on the one weak spot in the Overlords' rule. Ultimately, all their orders were carried out by human agents. If these were terrorized into disobedience, the whole system might collapse. (3.59)
Quote #4
Man was, therefore, still a prisoner on his own planet. It was a much fairer, but a much smaller, planet than it had been a century before. When the Overlords had abolished war and hunger and disease, they had also abolished adventure. (8.13)
It's one of those win-lose type situations: Earth's become a killer, nonstop party, but no one is allowed to leave and take a breather on, say, Mars.
Quote #5
People could indulge in such whims, because they had both the time and the money. (10.8)
The Overlords have equally distributed the two great freedom makers—time and money—to create a world that seems perfect. Yet characters like Jan Rodricks can still feel the claustrophobic effects of a world under the thumb of Overlord rule. And it's a mighty big thumb.
Quote #6
The Overlord ships reach more than 99 percent of the speed of light, so the trip must last forty years of our time. Our time: that's the crux of the matter. (12.14)
When Jan sneaks aboard the Overlord ship, he is freed from the confinements of Earth. All of them. Even time can barely confine him thanks to the speed of the traveling ship.
Quote #7
"Here on this island we're trying to save something of humanity's independence, its artistic traditions. We've no hostility towards the Overlords: we simply want to be left alone to go our own way. When they destroyed the old nations and the way of life man had known since the beginning of history, they swept away many good things with the bad. The world's now placid, featureless, and culturally dead: […]." (15.23)
Notice how the Overlords didn't actually attack artistic freedom—it just kind of got swept under the rug along with so many other human traits, like war. Yet the colonists of Athens think that artistic freedom is too valuable to be confined, even if the price is utopia.
Quote #8
"I know where it springs from: they're on their way at last, to become part of the Overmind. Their probation is ended: they're leaving the last remnants of matter behind." (24.36)
By joining the Overmind, humanity can free itself from the confinements of the Overlords, right? But if humanity goes extinct, is it truly humanity that is being freed?
Quote #9
Yet, Karellen knew, they would hold fast until the end: they would await without despair whatever destiny was theirs. They would serve the Overmind because they had no choice, but even in that service they would not lose their souls. (24.58)
Ultimately, we learn the Overlords themselves were also confined and not free to do as they wanted. It's turtles all the way down, Shmoopers. Just a bunch of confined turtles.