How we cite our quotes: Citations follow this format: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #16
"America is the strongest and most prosperous nation on earth," Nately informed him with lofty fervor and dignity. "And the American fighting man is second to none."
"Exactly," agreed the old man pleasantly, with a hint of taunting amusement. "Italy, on the other hand, is one of the least prosperous nations on earth. And the Italian fighting man is probably second to all. And that's exactly why my country is doing so well in this war while your country is doing so poorly. (23.14-15)
This logic seems contradictory because it implies that the strongest and richest nation, America, is losing the war while the poorest and weakest nation, Italy, is surviving just fine. However, the old man goes on to explain why this is so and his explanation makes a strange sort of sense.
Quote #17
"[…] it's better to die on one's feet than live on one's knee," Nately retorted with triumphant and lofty conviction. "I guess you've heard that saying before."
"Yes, I certainly have," mused the treacherous old man, smiling again. "But I'm afraid you have it backward. It is better to live on one's feet than die on one's knees. That is the way the saying goes." (23.61-62)
The old man, by inverting Nately's phrase, switches the meaning around. Whereas Nately espouses courage and freedom, the old man values survival at any cost.
Quote #18
[Milo:] "You'll be paying the money to yourself when you buy from the syndicate, since you'll own a share, so you'll really be getting everything you buy for nothing. Doesn't that make sense?" (24.34)
It is contradictory to say that you'll pay a syndicate to buy something, but that you get that something for nothing. However, once again, Milo's reasoning makes a strange degree of sense.