The Book Thief Love Quotes

How we cite our quotes: Citations follow this format: (Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #1

From the toolbox the boy took out, of all things, a teddy bear.

He reached in through the torn windshield and placed it on the pilot's chest. (3.9, 3.10)

Though we don't know it until the end of the novel, that boy is Rudy. By this time in the novel, he's dedicated himself to acts of kindness and love, small and large. Ironically, a plane like the one he sees crashed here, with its pilot barely alive, is like the one that will drop a bomb on Himmel Street, ending Rudy's life.

Quote #2

Liesel observed the strangeness of her foster father's eyes. They were made of kindness, and silver. […] Upon seeing those eyes, understood that Hans Hubermann was worth a lot. (6.22)

We understand it too. The novel seems to argue that it's easy to be loving, when we take the time to see the worth in those around it. Of course, Hans makes this really easy.

Quote #3

As long as both she and Rudy lived, she would never kiss that miserable, filthy Saukerl. (9.9)

Liesel does change her tune, but doesn't reveal the change to Rudy, until it's too late. The fact that she never kisses Rudy when he's alive will haunt Liesel for a long time to come.