How we cite our quotes: (Paragraph)
Quote #1
No respect was shown him in the department. The janitor not only did not rise from his seat when he passed, but never even glanced at him, as if only a fly had flown through the reception-room. (6)
In the eyes of his coworkers Akaky is not even human. He's as insignificant as a fly.
Quote #2
Some unseen force repelled him from the comrades whose acquaintance he had made, on the supposition that they were well-bred and polite men. And long afterwards, in his gayest moments, there came to his mind the little official with the bald forehead, with the heart-rending words, "Leave me alone! Why do you insult me?" And in these penetrating words, other words resounded—"I am thy brother." (9)
This is one of the few moments in the story that the narrator basically gives us a moral lesson. Even though he's low ranking, Akaky is still a human who deserves love and respect.
Quote #3
No one could ever say that he had seen him at any sort of an evening party. (16)
Not only is Akaky treated as if he's not human, but he's excluded from the social life of his office. It's just him, his ink, pen, and papers, night after night. Not a great party. Unless you ask Akaky.
Quote #4
All this—the noise, talk, and throng of people—was rather wonderful to Akaky Akakievich. He simply did not know where he stood, or where to put his hands, his feet, and his whole body. (74)
Akaky's coat is his golden ticket into social life. He finally gets to be part of a party, but even then he's still not quite integrated into the social circle because he's so awkward.
Quote #5
Instead of directing his attention to the principal points of the matter, he began to question Akaky Akakievich. Why did he return so late? Was he in the habit of going, or had he been, to any disorderly house? So that Akaky Akakievich got thoroughly confused, and left him without knowing whether the affair of his overcoat was in proper train, or not. (84)
Even though Akaky has gone to the superintendent for help after being robbed, the superintendent treats Akaky with suspicion instead of actually investigating the crime. What does he assume about Akaky? What does that tell you about how effective the Russian bureaucracy was at this point in time?
Quote #6
The news of the robbery of the coat touched many; although there were officials present who never omitted an opportunity, even the present, to ridicule Akaky Akakievich. They decided to take up a collection for him on the spot, but it turned out a mere trifle; for the officials had already spent a great deal in subscribing for the director's portrait, and for some book, at the suggestion of the head of that division, who was a friend of the author: and so the sum was trifling. (85)
Notice that without the coat, Akaky's life at the office is back to business as usual. They ignore him, make fun of him, and don't do anything to help him.
Quote #7
The prominent personage was in his cabinet, conversing very, very gayly with a recently arrived old acquaintance and companion of his childhood, whom he had not seen for several years. At such a time it was announced to him that a person named Bashmachkin had come. He asked abruptly, "Who is he?" "Some official," they told him. "Ah, he can wait! this is no time," said the important man. It must be remarked here, that the important man lied outrageously: he had said all he had to say to his friend long before; and the conversation had been interspersed for some time with very long pauses, during which they merely slapped each other on the leg, and said, "You think so, Ivan Abramovich!" "Just so, Stepan Varlamovich!" Nevertheless, he ordered that the official should wait, in order to show his friend—a man who had not been in the service for a long time, but had lived at home in the country—how long officials had to wait in his ante- room. (90)
Akaky isn't the only person who is isolated from others because of his rank. The prominent personage cannot even be himself with his childhood friend because he's so concerned about maintaining appearances. How sad is that?
Quote #8
To whom all this fell, God knows. I confess that the person who told this tale took no interest in the matter. (100)
This line is kind of humorous because it reminds us that we are reading a story. It's also a little absurd because someone has taken enough interest in Akaky to tell this story to the narrator, and the narrator tells story to us, so obviously someone cared about him.
Quote #9
A being disappeared, and was hidden, who was protected by none, dear to none, interesting to none, who never even attracted to himself the attention of an observer of nature, who omits no opportunity of thrusting a pin through a common fly, and examining it under the microscope[...] (100)
There's that fly again. Akaky is compared to fly, just like when we first met him, but this time the comparison is a little different. Instead of being as insignificant as a fly, now Akaky is even less significant than a fly.
Quote #10
But the horror of the important personage transcended all bounds when he saw the dead man's mouth open, and, with a terrible odor of the grave, utter the following remarks: "Ah, here you are at last! I have you, that ... by the collar! I need your coat. You took no trouble about mine, but reprimanded me; now give up your own. " (111)
Sometimes it's easy to think that Akaky is stupid and doesn't realize how other people treat him, but here, his ghost lets us know that he knew it all along.