How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
"Ordinance 175389-J: It shall be unlawful, illegal, and unethical to think, think of thinking, surmise, presume, reason, meditate, or speculate while in the Doldrums. Anyone breaking this law shall be severely punished!" (2.43)
Imagine not having the freedom to think. What would that be like? Awful, that's what. And how would people be able to tell if you were "breaking this law" or not? Is it possible to not think at all? How can you even answer that question without thinking about it? Our mind is spinning!
Quote #2
Everyone agreed that it was a very fair sentence, and the judge continued: "There will also be a small additional penalty of six million years in prison. Case closed," he pronounced, rapping his gavel again. "Come with me. I'll take you to the dungeon." (5.24)
Hasn't anyone told this judge about cruel and unusual punishment? There's a big gap here between the "fair sentence" Milo thought he would receive and six million years in the clinker. But the key here is that our clever judge has separated the sentence ("I am") and the punishment. Talk about mincing words.
Quote #3
"And so they were taken from the palace and sent far away to the Castle in the Air, and they have not been seen since. That is why today, in all this land, there is neither Rhyme nor Reason." (6.23)
The two brothers disagreed with Rhyme and Reason, so they cast their sisters out. That was shortsighted and, ultimately, stupid because, while Rhyme and Reason were the ones who were technically being held prisoner, the people they left behind suffered even more without them.
Quote #4
"You will, of course, need a guide," said the king, "and, since he knows the obstacles so well, the Humbug has cheerfully volunteered to accompany you."
"Now see here," cried the startled bug, for that was the last thing in the world he wanted to do. (8.66-67)
The king traps the Humbug into going on the quest through clever wordplay. In fact, in Dictionopolis, it seems like words are always ensnaring people. When we read this quote, we can't help but think of Milo's "sentence" in Chapter 5.
Quote #5
All the flowers suddenly appeared black, the gray rocks became a lovely soft chartreuse, and even peacefully sleeping Tock changed from brown to a magnificent ultramarine. Nothing was the color it should have been, and yet, the more he tried to straighten things out, the worse they became.
"I wish I hadn't started," he thought unhappily as a pale-blue blackbird flew by. "There doesn't seem to be any way to stop them." (11.12-13)
Milo is trapped by his own bad decision. He made the overconfident error of thinking he could conduct the sunrise. Once he started, he just couldn't stop. He probably should have thought that one through, but, hey, we all make mistakes. Hopefully Milo will learn from this one.
Quote #6
"You must visit the Soundkeeper and bring from the fortress one sound, no matter how small, with which to load our cannon. For, if we can reach the walls with the slightest noise, they will collapse and free the rest. It won't be easy, for she is hard to deceive, but you must try." (12.47)
All the sounds of this region have been captured and locked away in a fortress. So, even though the people are free, they're unable to talk aloud or to make any sounds at all. So, how free can they really be?
Quote #7
"Has Azaz agreed to it?" the Mathemagician inquired.
"Yes, sir," the dog assured him.
"THEN I DON'T," he thundered again, "for since they've been banished, we've never agreed on anything – and we never will." (16.44-9)
The two brothers have trapped themselves in a pointless, endless argument. They're minds are totally closed to other viewpoints and ideas. Luckily Rhyme and Reason can return to open their minds, with the help of clever Milo and his buddies.
Quote #8
After what seemed like days, he [the Humbug] had dug a hole scarcely large enough for his thumb. Tock shuffled steadily back and forth with the dropper in his teeth, but the full well was still almost as full as when he began, and Milo's new pile of sand was hardly a pile at all.
"How very strange," said Milo, without stopping for a moment. "I've been working steadily all this time, and I don't feel the slightest bit tired or hungry. I could go right on the same way forever."
"Perhaps you will," the man agreed. (17.1-3)
Milo, Tock, and the Humbug all agreed to these tasks of their own free will. No one's standing over them with weapons or anything to make sure they keep at it. So what's keeping them there, then? Perhaps it's their own closed minds. They're not thinking clearly, or critically, so they just keep going with the (awful) flow.
Quote #9
"Well, I hope you didn't expect to get anywhere by listening to me," said the voice gleefully.
"We'll never get out of here," the Humbug moaned, looking at the steep, smooth sides of the pit.
"That is quite an accurate evaluation of the situation," said the voice coldly. (17.35-37)
In this moment, it seems like all the three travelers' attempts to rescue the princesses will have been in vain because they are stuck in this terrible "pit." How can they possibly escape? Well, for starters, they could figure out who's trapped them down there. As it most situations in this book, the trick to getting out of a jam is nothing more than clever thinking.
Quote #10
"But what of the Castle in the Air?" the bug objected, not very pleased with the arrangement.
"Let it drift away," said Rhyme.
"And good riddance," added Reason, "for no matter how beautiful it seems, it's still nothing but a prison." (18.76-78)
The Humbug just sees a beautiful castle. It's up to Rhyme and Reason to remind the others that the place's beauty doesn't change what it really is: a jail. Remember Alec's advice? Keep your eyes (and your mind) open. Then you can see things for what they truly are.