Keep far away from Orion Lake.
-- Gwen Higgins (Chapter 1)

Importance: El's mother sends her a note through a freshman that says: "Keep far away from Orion Lake." This quote is important because it foreshadows Orion's betrayal of El.

I opened the door expecting to find something really horrible inside, and I did: eight freshmen, all of whom turned and stared at me like a herd of small and especially pitiful deer about to be mown down by a massive lorry.
-- El (Chapter 1)

Importance: The Scholomance forces El to attend class with eight freshmen. This quote is important because it demonstrates the school's attempts to activate El's empathy and desire to protect others.

It wasn’t a situation you’d call conducive to fellow-feeling among the enclavers.
-- El (Chapter 2)

Importance: When rumors about a feud between the New York and Shanghai enclaves make their way through the school, tensions run high. This quote is important because it highlights how destructive international...