How we cite our quotes: (Act.Scene.Line)
Quote #4
PEACHUM. Celia, the way you chuck your daughter around anyone would think I was a millionaire. Wanting to marry her off? The idea! Do you think this lousy business of ours would survive a week if those ragamuffins our customers had nothing better than our legs to look at? A husband! (1.1.170-174)
Mr. Peachum is unhappy that his daughter is going to be married, but not for the reasons you might expect. It's not that he wants to make sure she's happy or has a good enough partner. Nope, he's interested in how to attract customers if his good-looking daughter isn't around. His greed outweighs his concern for his daughter's welfare.
Quote #5
PEACHUM. Such are the basic rights of man's existence.
But do we know of anything suggesting
That when a thing's a right one gets it? No!
To get one's rights would be most interesting
But our condition's such it can't be so. (1.234-238)
Peachum laments the difference between what people supposedly have a right to, like basic human rights, and what they actually get. Apparently, that gap between rights and reality are what creates the conditions for the greed that we see running rampant in the play.
Quote #6
PEACHUM. Let's say your brother's close to you
But if there's not enough for two
He'll kick you smartly in the face (1.3.263-265)
Sibling rivalry is at its most basic here: fighting for a scrap of food. If you've ever seen a litter of puppies or kittens fighting over who gets to be closest to mom, you'll know what Peachum's talking about.