Noli Me Tángere (Touch Me Not)

“The doors of his house, like those of his country, were closed to no one but tradesmen or perhaps a new or daring idea.”

The house in question belongs to Tiago, a member of the upper class. It illustrates how the conservative worldview of the church and wealthy prevents progressive views from taking root in the Philippines.

“That’s why there are so many calamities! The governors support the heretics against God’s own ministers!”

In this quote, Father Dámaso reveals his conservative worldview—how he views San Diego’s growing movement toward secular government. He blames secularism for the ills of society.

“I may be a poet, but I am not crazy.”

In this quote, an anonymous man responds to Ibarra’s question about why he no longer writes. The man seems too intimidated to put pen to paper, despite the inherent power of reading and writing.