How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Section.Paragraph)
Quote #1
[It] may have been resentment of return from this fine, bold man-world to a restricted region of wives and stenographers, and of suggestions not to smoke so much. (1.3.2)
Whenever Babbitt feels the call of the everyday world, he resents the fact that there are women like his wife and secretary who tell him what to do. He much prefers to be among men, because men never try to tell one another what to do in his mind.
Quote #2
But he had no cigarette-case. No one had ever happened to give him one, so he hadn't the habit, and people who carried cigarette-cases he regarded as effeminate. (1.4.22)
Babbitt is concerned about being seen as a masculine man, so he doesn't bother to carry a case for his cigarettes because he thinks that these cases are effeminate. Next thing you know, the guy won't want to put cream in his coffee because it's too girly.
Quote #3
"Well we know—not just in the Bible alone, but it stands to reason—a man who doesn't buckle down and do his duty, even if it does bore him sometimes, is nothing but a—well, he's simply a weakling. Mollycoddle, in fact!" (5.3.53)
Babbitt thinks that both the Bible and good common sense are clear about what a man must do. He must deal with whatever life throws his way and not get all mopey about it. But the real takeaway from this quote is that we need to bring "mollycoddle" back into the common lingo, ASAP. That is one cool-sounding word.