How we cite our quotes: Line
Quote #1
I'd like you, as soon as possible, to reverse your life, and go to learn the things I want you to. (87)
Strepsiades wants his son to go get an education—pretty noble, right? Well, not really… since he only wants him to get that education so they can cheat their creditors out of the debt Strepsiades owes them (which Pheidippides himself racked up with his irresponsible behavior).
Quote #2
Yuk! That scum! I know who you mean. The charlatans, / the pasty-faces, the ones who don't wear shoes, / like that miserable Socrates and Chaerephon. (102-104)
Pheidippides has no interest in going to the Thinkery to learn, since he thinks Socrates and Chaerephon are "charlatans." We suspect, though, that he's just objecting because he wants to sleep in (and hey, we can relate).
Quote #3
Hey now, be quiet! Don't speak childishly. / And have a care about your father's daily bread. / Lay off the racing and join their company. (105-108)
Strepsiades makes the hard sell and demands that Pheidippides enroll in the school, but the son still refuses.
Quote #4
And I won't take this setback lying down. / I'll say a little prayer and go myself / to the Thinkery to get an education. / But how's an old man like me, forgetful and dense, / to learn precise, hair-splitting arguments? (126-130)
When his son refuses to help out, Strepsiades decides that he will go to the Thinkery to learn what he needs to know. However, he's not super optimistic that he'll be able to retain all the lessons he's about to learn.
Quote #5
Go on, don't worry; the man you see before you / has come to the Thinkery to be a pupil too. (141-142)
When Strepsiades gets to the Thinkery, he meets a pupil who starts to give him the lay of the land. The pupil is reluctant to go too far into detail about what goes on at the Thinkery (which suggests it's more like a cult than a school), but Strepsiades assures him he's there to join up, so the dude becomes more open.
Quote #6
Open up the Thinkery, and make it quick; / I want to see Socrates as soon as possible. / I yearn to learn. Come on now, open up! / Good God, what kind of creatures have we here? (181-184)
Strepsiades is super eager to get started with his lessons; it seems that greed is quite the motivator. As he's demanding that the student let him in, he comes across some students staring at the ground with their rumps in the air. Hmm, just what are they teaching at this Thinkery place? Is this a yoga class?
Quote #7
STREPSIADES: Pray tell me what these are, these instruments?
PUPIL: This here's astronomy (200-201)
The pupil takes Strepsiades through the Thinkery and shows him the various tools they have for teaching.
Quote #8
How's that? / It's thought that draws the moisture into lettuce? / Come down, Socratikins, come down here to me, / so you can teach me what I've come to learn. (235-238)
When Strepsiades first meets Socrates, the great philosopher is suspended in the air, apparently mingling with all the intangible thoughts and ideas that, well, live in the sky? Socrates claims that he has to do his heavy thinking up in the air or else the ground would leech all the "moisture of thought" from the mind.
Quote #9
It's an equine ailment that's eating me up alive. / No matter. Teach me one of your Arguments, / the one that pays no debts. Whatever your fee, / I'll pay it, I swear by all the gods, in cash. (243-246)
Strepsiades is very clear in his learning goals. Normally we'd think that's great, but since his sole purpose is to achieve his own dishonest ends, we're going to hold off on the praise for now.
Quote #10
Oh really? The sum and total of human wisdom! / Find out how thick and ignorant you really are! / Just wait right here a minute; don't go away. (841-843)
After Strepsiades crashes and burns at the Thinkery (i.e., Socrates kicks him out), he once again wants his son to go in his place. Pheidippides is still resistant, but he eventually comes around… and then ends up using his newly acquired logic against Strepsiades, rather than for him.