Quote 7
THESEUS
The kinder we, to give them thanks for nothing.
Our sport shall be to take what they mistake;
And what poor duty cannot do, noble respect
Takes it in might, not merit. (5.1.95-98)
Here, we're reminded that, even though the amateur actors are pretty lousy, they certainly mean well. We can also see that, if you want to be an actor (like Bottom and Peter Quince do), then you've got to put yourself out there and be willing to humiliate yourself in the process.
Quote 8
THESEUS
Hippolyta, I wooed thee with my sword
And won thy love doing thee injuries,
But I will wed thee in another key,
With pomp, with triumph, and with reveling. (1.1.17-20)
Theseus believes love has the transformative power to change him from Hippolyta's enemy to her lover and to change Hippolyta from an Amazon Queen to a happy wife.
Quote 9
THESEUS
O, methinks how slow
This old moon wanes! she lingers my desires
Like to a stepdame or a dowager
Long withering out a young man's revenue. (1.1.3-6)
This is weird and kind of random, don't you think? When Theseus gripes about having to wait so long for his wedding night with Hippolyta, he compares the moon to a greedy stepmother ("step-dame") or widow ("dowager"), spending all of her son's inheritance. Theseus's complaint seems directed at women in general, so we're immediately aware that the play will dramatize some gender tension.