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Murder on the Orient Express Good and Evil Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Part.Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #1

"When he passed me in the restaurant," he said at last, "I had a curious impression. It was as though a wild animal – an animal savage, but savage! you understand – had passed me by."

"And yet he looked altogether of the most respectable."

"Précisément! The body – the cage – is everything of the most respectable – but through the bars, the wild animal looks out."

"You are fanciful, mon vieux," said M. Bouc.

"It may be so. But I could not rid myself of the impression that evil had passed me by very close." (1.2.52-56)

Poirot compares Ratchett to a wild animal and gets the sense that he is evil just by looking at him. Do you think we can truly know evil when we see it?

Quote #2

"I'll tell you the truth, Mr. Poirot. I disliked and distrusted him. He was, I am sure, a cruel and a dangerous man. I must admit, though, that I have no reasons to advance for my opinion." (1.6.102)

MacQueen's opinion is founded on the Armstrong case, though he won't admit it to Poirot this early in the novel.

Quote #3

"Ah! Quel animal!" M. Bouc's tone was redolent of heartfelt disgust. "I cannot regret that he is dead – not at all!" (1.8.16)

Again, Mr. Ratchett is compared to a savage animal rather than being talked about as a human being.