Quote 1
"It ain't fair!" I cried passionately. "It ain't fair that we have all the rough breaks!" (3.43)
Ponyboy's actual situation isn't that awful, all things considered. He grew up in a loving family and has always had a warm bed. But the Socials are getting away with terrorizing him and the Greasers because they have money for lawyers, etc. This culture of fear intensifies all the economic issues that Pony's family and all of his friends face.
Quote 2
"Do you think that your spying for us makes up for the fact that you're sitting there in a Corvette while my brother drops out of high school to get a job? Don't you ever try to give us handouts and then feel high and might about it." (8.98)
Pony is really bitter here, and still convinced that everything's about money. But, he has a point and maybe a message for his readers – there's a real problem here and he wants real help, not little gestures and pity. But are Cherry's gestures too small? Does she make a difference for him?
Quote 3
I would, I would help her and Randy both if I could. "Hey," I said suddenly, "can you see the sunset real good from the West Side?" (8.101)
Pony realizes something important about himself – the desire to help others is another thing that cuts across social and class divisions.