How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
At all events I woke up suddenly, from a sleep or from a kind of reverie, with the most extraordinary feeling in the world—a mortal disgust for the thing I was going to do. (2.69)
Turns out that Newman isn't quite the mercenary he thought he was. Our guy is a softie deep down.
Quote #2
"It came upon me like that!"—and he snapped his fingers—"as abruptly as an old wound that begins to ache." (2.69)
Newman thinks he makes decisions lickety-split. But describing a decision as "an old wound" seems to imply that he stews on things for a bit longer than he likes to think.
Quote #3
"But I see you are in earnest, and I should like to help you." (3.70)
Mrs. Tristram is a businesswoman through and through. She sees that Newman is a decent investment as a husband. (Also, she's probably more than a little bored at this point in her life.)
Quote #4
Is she not her own mistress? (6.13)
Claire doesn't seem to stand up for herself much, even though she has no trouble speaking her mind.
Quote #5
"My sister asked me to come, and a request from my sister is, for me, a law." (7.11)
Valentin is too lazy to make most of his own choices, but he's fiercely loyal to Claire.
Quote #6
"I declared it was revolting, and told my sister publicly that if she would refuse downright, I would stand by her." (8.17)
It's not like Claire was completely forced to marry her gross old husband. Valentin insists he would have had her back whatever she chose.
Quote #7
"That is my impression. But that is not against you; it's for you to make her change her mind." (8.63)
Newman has a pretty intense task ahead of him. Claire doesn't change her mind easily.
Quote #8
She came in at last, after so long an interval that he wondered whether she had been hesitating. (9.1)
While Newman's decisions are always transparent, it's a little difficult to figure out what makes Claire tick.
Quote #9
"[…] I will agree to anything you choose; I will admit that I am the biggest snob in Paris." (10.2)
Newman relies a little too heavily on his friends to make social choices for him. But he learns that Paris is a city run on social networks and social decisions that are almost completely opaque for a new-to-Europe American.