How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
One first thing learned about Luna, back with first shiploads of convicts, was that zero pressure was place for good manners. Bad-tempered straw boss didn't last many shifts; had an "accident"—and top bosses learned not to pry into accidents or they met accidents, too. Attrition ran 70 percent in early years—but those who lived were nice people. (2.50)
Mannie explains the pervasiveness of violence in Luna society. The Moon is a violently harsh mistress, and as such, many people die trying to make a living from that barren land. If another is going to need to rely on you for his or her survive, you'd better come packing some good manners. Pleases and thanks yous are mandatory.
Quote #2
"Terror! A man can face known danger. But the unknown frightens him. We disposed of those finks, teeth and toenails, to strike terror into their mates. Nor do I know how many effectives the Warden has, but I guarantee they are less effective today. Their mates went out on an easy mission. Nothing came back." (5.122)
Prof's suggestion here is that violence isn't just necessary for a revolution, it is down right strategic. The Warden's bodyguards will think twice about attacking the next revolution rally—or if they're smart, maybe think three or four times.
Quote #3
Nobody paid attention; they walked around or stepped over—except one woman carrying a baby, who stopped, kicked him carefully in face, then went down ramp. He may have been dead already, didn't wait to see. Understand body stayed there till relief arrived. (9.18)
Dude, these Loonies are cold-blooded. Although from their perspective, violence is an everyday part of Loonie life. But still… dang.
Quote #4
"Stopping [Stu] from touching Tish, that's fine. Rough him, that's okay, too; he'll learn faster. And could have tossed him out. But talking about eliminating for what was honest mistake—well, it's out of proportion. Five bucks each. Ante up." (11.90)
Mannie's verdict shows that violence is the best way to learn on Luna—it's a spare the rod, spoil the child mentality around these parts. Of course, it's a matter of proportion. Can't very well learn your lesson breathing the vacuum of space, can you?
Quote #5
"Oh, not at all! But eliminating isn't against some law; are no laws—except Warden's regulations—and Warden doesn't care what one Loonie does to another. But we figure this way: If a man is killed, either he had it coming and everybody knows it—usual case—or his friends will take care of it by eliminating man who did it. Either way, no problem. Nor many eliminations. Even set duels aren't common." (11.130)
Okay, but really? Really? We're supposed to accept that every act of murder on Luna is sanctioned by the idea that it's deserved—there are no acts of gang violence, no use of violence to intimidate, no unjustified murders of passion or vengeance. We know this book is fiction, but that's a figment of serious imagination.
Quote #6
Six Dragoons were in it. Not satisfied with raping her (if rape it was) they abused her other ways and killed her. But they did not dispose of body neatly; another civil service fem found it before was cold. She screamed. Was her last scream. (13.2)
What the Peace Dragoons do here is clearly a heinous act of violence—no two ways about it—but it is interesting to note that, at this point in the novel, the first and only act of unjustifiable violence is performed by an outsider, not a Loonie. It sets a pattern for violence that carries for the remainder of the story: Moral acts of violence are performed by the Loonies, immoral acts by others.
On the other hand, one could argue that all societies have the tendency to claim justified violence on its own behalf while decrying the violence of others. There's that to consider, too.
Quote #7
Civil Defense team went ahead, completed temporary lock, tested it with helmets closed; it held—came out, grabbed this joker, took him through into temporary lock and on out into zero pressure, dumped him.
Belittlers kept opinions to selves after that. (14.122-23)
Oh, man. You can be killed on Luna for heckling and no one thinks that's out of proportion. Bad news for hecklers ,but good news for stand-up comedians.
Quote #8
All that immigration in huge numbers could mean would be that a larger percentage of immigrants would die—too few of us to help them past natural hazards. (18.56)
Going back to the idea that violence is the ultimate teacher on Luna. In this case, we see that it's the environment that leads to this custom of violence. The human body did not evolve to live on the Moon but on Earth; they haven't exactly mastered the art of not breathing yet.
Quote #9
One p-suited man with gun looks like another; I suppose they took me for one of their flankers. And to me they looked no different from Finn's man, at that distance—save that I never thought about it. A new chum doesn't move way a cobber does; he moves feet too high and always scrambling for traction. Not that I stopped to analyze, not even: "Earthworms! Kill!" Saw them, burned them. (23.44)
Friendly fire occurs when soldiers attack friendly forces during a battle. It usually results from misidentifying allies and is all too common in the chaos of war. This is a very serious issue when considering war and its affects, but unfortunately, The Moon is a Harsh Mistress skirts around the issue. This passage serves as its Get Out of Difficult Conversation Free card.
Quote #10
Hadn't been any indignation over their invasion and (nuclear!) bombing of us four days earlier. Great New York Times demanded that entire Lunar "rebel" government be fetched Earthside and publicly executed—"This is clearly a case in which the humane rule against capital punishment must be waived in the greater interests of all mankind." (27.6)
So… the Terrans want to punish violence and death by waiving the rules against capital punishment so they can dish out violence and death. Does that make sense? The world of this novel truly does live by an eye for an eye mantra.