How we cite our quotes: Citations follow this format: (Book.Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
"You have no pity - you have no sense of your own imperfection and your own sins. It is a sin to be hard - it is not fitting for a mortal - for a Christian [...]. You thank God for nothing but your own virtues - you think they are great enough to win you everything else. You have not even a vision of feelings by the side of which your shining virtues are mere darkness!" (5.5.83)
Maggie’s climactic rant to Tom pretty much hits the nail on the head for his character. It is interesting that she casts Tom’s lack of pity as a moral failing and a sin. Tom’s lack of pity is more than a personality defect here.
Quote #8
"You dear tiny thing," said Maggie, in on of her bursts of loving admiration, "you enjoy other people’s happiness so much. I believe you would do without any of your own. I wish I were like you." (6.2.21)
Maggie praises Lucy for her good nature, but it is ironic, or amusing, that Lucy’s personal happiness is probably what allows her to be happy for others. As Maggie knows, it is much harder to look past your own suffering and be happy for others. It begs the question as to whether or not Lucy would be so happy for others if she didn’t have her own happiness.
Quote #9
"Faithfulness and constancy mean something else besides doing what is easiest and pleasantest to ourselves. They mean renouncing whatever is opposed to the reliance others have in us - whatever would cause misery to those whom the course of our lives has made dependent on us." (6.14.30)
Being faithful to others is a matter of compassion for Maggie. Her reluctance to cause others pain becomes a guiding moral principle. It is interesting that she notes how the "course of our lives" brings us into contact with these other people. Maggie says that she doesn’t get to choose the people towards whom she must be faithful and compassionate.