Mine is a luxurious house, large and comfortable. But a large, comfortable prison is still a prison.”
-- Rowan (chapter 1)

Importance: Rowan is describing her home life and making the point that she technically has everything she wants and needs in her beautiful home, but she lacks the basic freedom that would allow her to live a full life. She has literally spent her entire life within the walls of her family's home, and as she ages, she is resenting that more.

And so I, and other second children like me (if there are any) really are the monsters who would doom the human species if we could, simply by our very existence. I feel guilty when I let myself think about it.”
-- Rowan (chapter 3)

Importance: Rowan and everyone else in Eden has been taught that there is a limited amount of resources available and those have to last until the Earth recovers sufficiently to support human...