How we cite our quotes: ("Story Name," Paragraph)
Quote #1
To get away from wars and censorship and statism and conscription and government control of this and that, of art and science! ("The Taxpayer," 1)
Although the Taxpayer doesn't get to make any big speeches, we do get a short summary here of what he believes in. We're wondering if Bradbury agrees with him. Sure, the guy doesn't come off too sympathetically, but a lot of the settlers we see later are trying to escape the same thing. Maybe—and we're just trying this out—it's good to go to Mars if you're looking for something new, but not so good to go if you're just trying to get away from your problems.
Quote #2
"After all, like the Pilgrims, these people came here to escape Earth. Maybe they won't be too happy to see us. Maybe they'll try to drive us out or kill us." ("The Third Expedition," 100)
Here, Lustig says that the Pilgrims were leaving in search of freedom, too. (But England, not Earth.) And the village they're discussing actually just looks like an Earth village—it's a trick played on them by the Martians. It's funny that Lustig expects people to use violence to protect their freedom—just as Spender and Stendahl do later.
Quote #3
"Abandoned!" said the captain. "They abandoned the ship, they did! I'll have their skins, by God! They had orders!" ("The Third Expedition," 140)
Oh, the irony. In just the next time or two, this noble Captain Black is going to abandon his ship. But notice that this sort of chain of command is another form of restriction on freedom—and if all the men had stayed on the ship, near their weapons, they might have survived this Martian trap.