"Those who beg in silence starve in silence."
In Chapter One, Kim quotes a native proverb while talking with the lama. The two characters are reconciling their social differences, as the lama explains that in Tibet one does not share that they are thirsty or hungry. Kim explains to the lama that he cannot be so naive, and he needs to ask for help in order to receive it.
“'And some day,' she said, confusedly remembering O’Hara’s prophecies, 'there will come for you a great Red Bull on a green field, and the Colonel riding on his tall horse."
Following the death of Kim's parents, he is taken in by a woman who runs an opium den. This woman knew Kim's father quite well, as he was an opium addict. She tells Kim about his father's prophecy about Kim being "taken in" by a red bull on a green field. This information excites Kim, as he feels he is destined for something great. Kim eventually encounters this image in a flag, and upon further discovery, he realizes it is his father's former regiment. The prophecy does hold true, as Kim's encounter with the former regiment ends up changing the course of his life.
"The pedigree of the white stallion was not fully established, and that officer, who is now at Umballa, bade me make it clear.”
Kim always knew that Mahbub Ali was one of the best horse dealers in Punjab, but he never suspected that he was involved in another line of work. This moment represents Kim's introduction into the world of espionage. Kim is immediately thrust into the role when Mahbub Ali finds the protagonist's travels with the lama to be advantageous. Kim is sent to deliver a message to Colonel Creighton, thus introducing him to agents and characters that will shape his future career within the British Empire.
"All India is full of holy men stammering gospels in strange tongues; shaken and consumed in the fires of their own zeal."
In this moment, the lama underscores the diverse religious and cultural communities that comprise India. He uses immersive language that underscores the religious fervor of numerous citizens, thus demonstrating that there is a kind of unity among disparate individuals on their respective spiritual paths.
“I consider in my own mind whether thou art a spirit, sometimes, or sometimes an evil imp."
The lama says this to Kim on their travels, and he questions whether Kim is a spirit or a mischievous child. Kim, interestingly, responds with the following: "I am thy chela." In his answer, the protagonist reconciles that he can be both "destined" to be with the lama and a silly, conniving kid.
"My father, he got these papers from the Jadoo-Gher—what do you call that?”
In this excerpt, Kim tells the Anglican chaplains his biography. The two are doubtful, as they see Kim as brown and thus as the "Other." This quote is particularly interesting, as we see Kim struggling to express himself in English. In this way, we see how the duality of Kim's identity causes him both personal difficulty & trouble in being understood/accepted by others.
"My experience is that one can never fathom the Oriental mind."
When Kim visits his father's former regiment, he is greeted by Father Victor and Reverend Bennett. His experience with these figures is less than ideal—the two are racist and classist, and they are initially unwelcoming to Kim. In this excerpt, Reverend Bennett "others" the Indian people. He claims that British society is more refined and "correct," thus underscoring a major justification for colonization that was present in the 19th century.
"Will you let me go back to my old man? If he has not stayed with that woman from Kulu, I am afraid he will die."
In this quote, Kim is very worried about the lama and his safety. Although the lama is decades older than the protagonist, he is naive and lacks survival skills. In this way, there is a clear balance in the friendship shared between the lama and Kim. While the lama teaches Kim about spirituality and encourages Kim to be compassionate, Kim plays the role of caretaker. When they are separated, Kim feels something pulling at him—he wants to ensure that the lama is okay, and he feels the lama is at risk if not under constant watch.
"He considered his own identity, a thing he had never done before, till his head swam. He was one insignificant person in all this roaring whirl of India, going southward to he knew not what fate."
Kim spends most of the novel trudging along, relatively unbothered. However, at this moment in the plot, we see the protagonist in the throes of an existential crisis. Kim feels vulnerable and uncertain, questioning his identity and feeling insignificant. He is unsure of what the future holds, and he feels out of control and unimportant. It is important to note that these questionings come at a point of complete and utter physical exhaustion, and Kim feels lost and depleted. However, Kim's thoughts demonstrate his personal growth—he is questioning his place in the world and his path to becoming a better person.
"Men say he does magic, but that should not touch thee. Go up the hill and ask. Here begins the Great Game."
These words are spoken by Mahbub Ali in the closing sentence of Chapter Eight. Mahbub Ali is prefacing the group's encounter with the European men, and thus the "official" climactic point of the Great Game. For context, the Great Game is the term used to describe the rivalry between British and Russian Empires over influence in Central Asia during the 19th century. The European men that appear in the subsequent chapters are on the side of the Russians, thus positioned as Kim's enemies. This quote foreshadows that the rest of the novel will be filled with action.
