"I am from Segovia."
Don Pablos introduces himself to readers in this dramatic fashion. True, Pablos is proud of where he was born, but what is more significant about this statement is its indication of origin. Throughout the book Quevedo hints at the dilemma of human nature vs. nurture in the formation of a person's character. Pablos, himself, so proudly asserts his ancestral origins as if to suggest he believes he is a product of his environment.
"He suffered under Pontius de Aguirre."
After calling a classmate Pontius Pilate and being whipped for it, Pablos substitutes this phrase for those referring to Pilate in the daily prayers. The impact of that beating is enough to scare Pablos away from participating in class. He begins withdrawing further and further for fear of earning more punishments. Eventually he drops school altogether.
". . .Watch out for yourself because you have no other father or mother here."
Don Diego here admonishes his friend, Pablos, to look after himself. He understands that nobody will support Pablos now that his parents are dead, but Pablos doesn't seem to recognize this. Yet again this adds to the nature vs. nurture debate because Pablos, lacking the advantage that responsible (or living) parents bring to a youth, is severely disadvantaged.
"Sir, I've changed and my ambitions are set on higher sights and I want to get a position."
Don Pablos parts ways with Don Diego over the offense of his friend's father's letter. Diego's father ordered him to stop spending time with Pablos because of his delinquent influence on his son. When Pablos receives the news of his inheritance, he leaps at the chance to humiliate Diego by willingly leaving him. He boasts about his good prospects and insults Diego and their friendship.
