Just as peasants can be popes and Jews can teach us the Bible and women can be disciples of Jesus, Muslims can save your very life!
-- William (chapter 3)

Importance: William says this when he is arguing with Brother Bartholomew, who has a very narrow view of the world and the people in it. Brother Bartholomew teaches his students that virtually anyone who is different from them is evil, including peasants, women, Jews, and Saracens. William disagrees with the monk, which gets him expelled from the monastery. This quote is an example of the author’s theme of people being persecuted for their differences.

Because, she realized, if she was going to be burned at the stake for magic—well, they would be, too.
-- The Nun (chapter 8)

Importance: The nun is the storyteller for the chapter of the book in which this quote occurs. This quote shows the point at which Jeanne begins to trust her new companions...