How we cite our quotes: Line
Quote #1
That house is a Thinkery for clever souls. / Some gentlemen live there who argue that the sky / is a casserole-cover—and make us all believe it— / and that it covers us all, and we're charcoal briquets. / These people train you, if you pay them money, to win any argument, whether it's right or wrong. (94-98)
Philosophers—or at least, philosophers like Socrates—get a pretty bad rap in this play. As you can see here, Strepsiades (who's actually a fan of what the Thinkery can do) portrays their ideas as ridiculous. The sky as "casserole-cover"? Funny, but not exactly the best advertisement for their approach and philosophy.
Quote #2
I'm told they have both kinds of argument: / the Better, whatever that is, and the Worse. / And one of these Arguments, the worse, I'm told, / can argue even an unjust case and win! / So if you could learn this Worse Argument for me, / then all these debts I owe on your account / I wouldn't have to pay, not even a penny! (112-118)
Strepsiades only gets interested in philosophy when he thinks it can get him out of his debts. Here, he's explaining his newfound appreciation for the topic to his son (the one who racked up all those debts).
Quote #3
And I won't take this setback lying down. / I'll say a little prayer and go myself / to the Thinkery to get an education. / But how's an old man like me, forgetful and dense, / to learn precise, hair-splitting arguments? (126-130)
When Pheidippides isn't willing to go learn from the Thinkery (he supposedly thinks they are charlatans), Strepsiades has to enroll.