How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
"But what about the Eights? Isn't that caste responsible for most for the crimes? They don't get any education." (17.164)
Maxon has some good ideas about how to help the people of Illéa, but he remains detached from the day-to-day reality of life in the lower castes. How couldn't he be? Fortunately, America is here to give him a fuller, more nuanced perspective.
Quote #8
"Have you ever been hungry, Maxon? [...] If there was absolutely no food here, nothing for your mother or father, [...] what would you do?" (17.165)
Here, America eloquently explains roughly ninety-nine percent of criminal activity: desperate people do desperate things. If Maxon's plan for combating crime rates doesn't actually include making people's lives better, it's going to be dead in the water before it even leaves the harbor.
Quote #9
"Good God. When you said you were only here for the food, you weren't kidding, were you?" he asked, shaking his head. (17.203)
Although Maxon knew that America had only taken part in the Selection for financial reasons, he didn't really know it, if you get what we're saying. This is another example of the prince's privileged existence preventing him from fully seeing his country's situation.