The Book Thief Suffering Quotes

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

Quote #7

To live. Living was living. The price was guilt and shame. (35.19-21)

This theme is repeated over and over in the novel, by anyone who survives. Michael Holtzapfel's guilt over his brother's death (which he had nothing to do with) drives him to suicide.

Quote #8

The man did not breathe. He did not move. Yet, somehow, he traveled from the doorway to the bed and was under the covers. (33.13)

The passage does a lot to highlight Max's suffering. Two years hiding in dark sheds has made him an expert at the art of pretending not to exist.

Quote #9

The suffering faces of depleted men and women reached across to them, pleading not so much for help, but for an explanation. Just something to subdue this confusion. (58.35)

This passage suggest that human beings crave understanding even more than food. The situation of the Jews being marched to Dachau is unimaginable. They never in their wildest dreams thought it would come to this. If someone came to you and told you you'd soon be moved to a death camp, would you believe it?