Sacrifice one or sacrifice all. That is the way of the world. We couldn’t change it if we tried.”
-- Narrator (Chapter 1 (“In Which a Story is Told”) )

Importance: This comment is made by an unnamed narrator who is part of the oppressed townspeople in the Protectorate. This belief is what the Elders want the people to think. They want the people to believe that sacrificing one baby each year on the Day of Sacrifice will keep everyone safe. Most importantly, the Elders need the townspeople to believe that they cannot change anything. This feeling of powerlessness is what makes the people so easy to control. A group of people who think they are powerless, who feel that they cannot change anything, are the easiest group to control and keep down. The quote above shows why Sister Ignatia and the Council were able to control the people of the Protectorate for so long.

They left knowing that it was...
-- Narrator (Chapter 2 (“In Which an Unfortunate Woman goes Quite Mad”) )