Quote 1
"I was sorry that his had happened to the old man. He was the only person who had ever been good to me after my mother died." (5.63)
Peter—like Alex—had his life saved by an unlikely father figure. He was saved from the streets by Jacob the Baker, who sheltered him, protected him, and taught him how to be a good man. Given this, it's only right that Peter pays it forward by doing the same for Alex.
Quote 2
"Here, at least, if we are hungry, cold, and filthy, we are those things while we are free," Peter had said. "We are alive and we are free." (6.96)
Hey, that's more than you could say about most Russian citizens. Peter has spent his entire life being abused by people who are more powerful than him, which makes him even more appreciative of what little freedom he's able to carve out for himself and his friends.
Quote 3
"And while you're at it," Peter shouted, "tell him that if he sends me to the police, I will tell the commissars a thing or two that he has done now and in the past." (10.40)
Although the book never says it directly, we're pretty sure Peter is implying that the director abuses the boys at his orphanage. We don't need to delve into the details of this potential abuse, but we think it's worth mentioning as yet another example of how power can be used for evil. This one is especially heartbreaking, though.
Quote 4
"I'm going to go back and… fish with Nicholai" […] Peter laughed, and his laugh […] sounded warm and good to Alex because it sounded like Peter. (13.83-85)
In the end, Peter makes it his life's mission to help suffering Soviet citizens get a second chance. Good for you, dude. Although we don't know exactly why Peter makes this choice, it's very much in line with the guy we've gotten to know over the course of The Wild Children.
Quote 5
"If I say he gets no soup, he gets no soup," said Peter angrily. "If you are staying here, you must know that what I say is the law." (4.20)
Peter's rule is simple: If you work hard, you'll eat well. We're using the word "well" relatively speaking, of course. Still, you have to give Peter props for running such a tight ship, especially because it would be really easy for him to act like a jerk and hoard all of the food for himself. Nom nom nom.
Quote 6
"Sometimes we had to throw out some who would not live by our rules. I still wanted to be the kind of man, Jacob, the baker, was, and we called it the Baker's Band." (5.67)
See what we mean? While most of the homeless kids in Moscow are getting into serious trouble (trouble that could land them in jail or worse), Peter manages to keep his crew on the straight-and-narrow. That's a big deal. Once again, it's pretty easy to see how important Peter's leadership is to the group.