How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
"The corporate world has its rules. The law firm has its rules…The real world as a whole has its rules. The rules deal with behaviors and the way to do things in order to be successful." (3.40)
If following the rules leads to success, success leads to money, and money leads to power, is it worth sacrificing independent thought and personal integrity to follow them?
Quote #2
"Right. Well, when I'm around Wendell, I feel like that CD would if it could feel." (9.67)
Sometimes just the way you look at someone can take away their power.
Quote #3
"Vidromek wants me to destroy you, really. They want me to drive you into the ground with discovery and delays until you regret ever taking this on." (10.46)
To plan from the outset to drive someone crazy with evasion and delays may be effective, but it's also straight-up, premeditated evil.
Quote #4
"What we have at the law firm is kind of a balance of power between two forces. The enterprise runs smoothly so long as the power remains equally balanced." (13.79)
The balance of power between Arturo and Holmes is not unlike a 20-year gunfight on a tightrope.
Quote #5
"The bond between our fathers extends to you and me. Keeping that bond, that balance of power, is extremely important. We keep the bond by putting each other first about anyone else." (13.81)
Of course Wendell's not willing to put Marcelo first; he just wants Marcelo to do his work while he goes and plays squash. He hasn't learned that "autistic" does not mean "stupid."
Quote #6
"People hire Sandoval and Holmes when they want the meanest and the toughest. When other firms know that we are on the case, they know our client is out to win. You want to succeed here, you need to be merciless, go for the jugular." (18.33)
Is it possible to "want the meanest and the toughest" if you're not trying to protect your ability to do something you shouldn't?
Quote #7
I decide not to respond, even though Juliet is waiting for an answer. For the first time I have doubts that the meek will ever inherit or possess anything. (18.36)
What Marcelo doesn't see is that he's taking his power back, or at least refusing to give up any more of it, in remaining silent. As anyone who's ever gotten the silent treatment knows, choosing not to speak can be a very powerful action.
Quote #8
I feel Wendell's index finger on my chest and I swat it away. I have never ever in my life thought I could hit another human being, but just now I realize I can. (20.18)
Not only does being poked in the chest really hurt, it's such a bullying, power-stealing move. It's the kind of thing you do when you don't know how to defend yourself with, you know, actual logic.
Quote #9
"People will run over you if you don't show anger," Jasmine told me once. That's what I feel like now, run over. Now I know why words like "hatred" and "enemy" are used at the law firm. (20.20)
The question is, how can anyone reach a point where they're willing to hear those words every day just to make money? How much of your soul do you have to sell?
Quote #10
"You can be the kindest person in the world, a saint, but once you step into the world of defending corporations, you operate by different rules." (20.56)
There's been a lot of recent political debate about corporations being taxed as people. But here we see an attorney saying they have to be defended differently from people. This is one of those gray areas that confuse Marcelo so much (and us, too).