Quote 31
"Get real. Up to a certain age, you need your parents, then later, they need you." (16.9)
This is something Marji says—and believes—as a headstrong fourteen-year-old. She's right, up to a point. She'll later learn that she will always need her parents, and they will always need her.
Quote 32
Her mother had already abandoned her. Since that day, I've had doubts about the so-called "maternal instinct." (14.25-14.26)
This little aside says a lot about Marji and her observation skills. Her aunt, who had just had a baby, leaves Marji's small cousin in Marji's arms and runs. This woman decides to save herself over her baby, causing Marji to draw the conclusion that the "maternal instinct" isn't universal, and some women will save themselves first. This isn't a strange conclusion for Marji to make, particularly since she lives in a society where neighbors will turn in neighbors for being different. "Saving yourself first" is a big part of the culture in Iran, unfortunately.
Quote 33
My grandpa was a prince. (3.34)
Marjane's grandpa may have been a prince, but she's no Disney princess. Instead of prancing around in a gown and singing to blue jays, she is conflicted about so many things: class differences, culture differences, ideological differences… many of these come from being in a family whose status and history are both at odds with what they truly believe in.