"I lived so happily in the country, a commonplace, everyday life, but a good and easy one—had not a trouble, not a care’’
Strepsiades talks fondly about his youth and about the time he spent in the countryside. From the way he describes himself, the reader is left with the idea that Strepsiades was a simple man, happy not when owning riches, but rather when having peace of heart and enough to sustain himself and survive. Country life is almost idolized here, seen as the life everyone should aspire to have. A simple life is seen as the way to happiness while one focused on money will only bring pain. Strepsiades knew this when he married and yet love made him act irrational, not in his best interest. This decision only brought him pain and misery in the long term and restlessness towards the end of his life.
"Athens! you are mistaken; I see no courts sitting’’
When Strepsiades is allowed to enter the interior yard, he is shown a globe portraying the world. The Disciple presenting Strepsiades the yard and everything the people learn there shows Strepsiades the place on the globe where Athens is. Strepsiades refuses to believe that the place pointed out is Anthems and utters the quote from above. Strepsiades notices how the courts are missing from the globe and thus transmits the idea that the courts are some of the elements that defines Athens. Strepsiades makes reference here to the common practice of raising lawsuts against everyone, a common practice which existed in Athens. Many people had some form of training in law and so they were capable of representing themselves in court, without needing any help. Strepsiades also was sure he would be getting rid of the people he borrowed money from if he were to take them to court and represent himself. This quote thus is used here to transmit this idea and to highlight it even more.
"And you, great high-priest of subtle nonsense, tell us your desire.’’
When the clouds come before Socrates and Strepsiades as women, they address Soctrates first by starting with the quote from above. He is called the "high-priest of subtle nonsense’’, an attack addressed by the author towards Socrates and those who followed him and his teachings. This quote is the first instance in the play where the voice of the author can be clearly heard. Through this, the narrator makes the reader sure of his opinion about Socrates and about his teachings while also subtly transiting the idea that he sees himself as being superior when compared with Socrates.
