“He felt equally dismissive of willful ignorance—his description of the modern press—and smug stupidity, his bon mot for politicians. To his mind, they were a gang of vapid and arrogant thugs all, who greedily snatched their information from one another like disappearing crumbs as society spiraled merrily toward hell.”

This quote introduces the character of Justice Wynn, establishing his significance as a representation for high ethical standards and moral fortitude. Through the lens of Justice Wynn, the book critiques the rampant nature of corruption, hunger for power, and greed.

“Tell her to look to the East for answers. Look to the river. In between. Look in the square. Lask. Bauer. Forgive me.”

These are Justice Wynn’s last words before he goes unconscious. From a plot standpoint, they introduce many of the riddles that Avery will be forced to unveil. Symbolically, they also introduce two of the book’s key motifs (the river) and symbols (chess).

“He’d called the denial of their merger an act of national security, but she knew his actions for what they were. Revenge and self-preservation.”

Indira expresses these thoughts about President Stokes, highlighting how people in power will lie to get what they want. In this case, President Stokes has constructed a moral argument (against genetic research) to save his own reputation and ensure that his involvement with Hygeia and Tigris doesn’t come to light. This kind of hypocrisy is frequently criticized in the book.