How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Section.Paragraph)
Quote #1
From then on to the end of the voyage that had turned from green and silver to a uniform gray, Pnin busied himself overtly with his English-language manuals, and although immutably meek with Liza, tried to see her as little as he could without awakening her suspicions. (2.5.9)
Here, Pnin has just found out that Liza is using him to get to America. Whereas only moments ago, he believed that he was part of a family and about to become a father, he's now aware that he was actually just the third wheel to the relationship between Liza and Eric Wind. So basically he's just been kicked out of his own family.
Quote #2
"It is nothing but a kind of microcosmos of communism—all that psychiatry," rumbled Pnin, in his answer to Chateau. "Why not leave their private sorrows to people? Is sorrow not, one asks, the only thing in the world people really possess?" (2.5.10)
There are a few things going on here. First of the bunch, Pnin's comment about psychiatry obviously brings Liza and Eric to mind. So by stating this, Pnin is associating them with communists. Also, Pnin lets us know that he thinks suffering is deeply personal and not to be shared. Why do you think that is? Is it perhaps because he has always suffered in isolation? Our wheels are a-turnin'…
Quote #3
Pnin, his head on his arm, started to beat the table with his loosely clenched fist. "I haf nofing," wailed Pnin between loud, damp sniffs, "I haf nofing left, nofing, nofing!" (2.7.24)
We'll admit that this quote made us think of a certain famous song. But as a quote it's actually pretty sad. After his meeting with Liza, Pnin goes searching for some whiskey and soda. When he doesn't find it, he breaks down crying and says this. What exactly do you think he means by saying he has nothing?—erm, sorry, nofing. Is he talking about having no one there for him in his life, or just about the whiskey?