How we cite our quotes: Citations follow this format: (Book.Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #4
Their religion was of a simple, semi-pagan kind, but there was no heresy in it, if heresy properly means choice, for they didn’t know there was any other religion, except that of chapel-goers, which appeared to run in families, like asthma. [...] The religion of the Dodsons consisted in revering whatever was customary and respectable [...] (4.1.4)
Religion is a matter of custom and of social practice here, as opposed to genuine individual belief. In fact, religion seems practically like a mindless social duty here since it "runs in families." It is inherited and then never looked at too closely.
Quote #5
It is clear that the irascible miller was a man to interpret any chance shot that grazed him as an attempt on his own life, and was liable to entanglements in this puzzling world which, due consideration had to his own infallibility, required the hypothesis of a very active diabolical agency to explain them. It is still possible to believe that the attorney was not more guilty towards him, than an ingenious machine which performs its work with much regularity is guilty towards the rash man who, venturing too near it, is caught up by some fly-wheel or other, and suddenly converted into unexpected sausages. (3.7.10)
This is may the best, and funniest, sum-up of Mr. Tulliver’s character in the whole book. There is a clear division of world-views here, which is at the heart of Tulliver’s problems. Tulliver takes everything personally and see the entire world as both potentially out to get him and as controlled by the devil. Mr. Wakem, the evil lawyer, is cast as a machine here, though. Wakem is essentially a cog in the machine of society itself, which is largely impersonal, in the realm of business at least. Mr. Tulliver takes things personally because the alternative of an impersonal, cruel, and uncaring society is even scarier.
Quote #6
To see an enemy humiliated gives a certain contentment, but this is jejune compared with the highly blent satisfaction of seeing him humiliated by your benevolent action of concession on his behalf. That is a sort of revenge which falls into the scale of virtue [...] (3.7.48)
Mr. Wakem isn’t above petty human emotions like revenge, but he commits revenge in a socially acceptable and even "virtuous" manner, which really may be more cruel than the type of brutal, physical revenge that Mr. Tulliver commits.