How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #4
The familiar hated affliction— feeling awkward, foolish, inept, embarrassed— surged through him, but for once he did not care and paid it no attention. The mouse dream flitted through his mind. Then he thought of Anne Frank and of his visit to her house— no, not her house, her museum— that morning. And now this and these tears. All somehow connected. (9.87)
When Jacob finds out about Geertrui's scheduled death, he cries, but not because she's going—nope, he's more emotional about the fact that he's alive. It's telling since Jacob seems so detached and disconnected at the beginning of the book.
Quote #5
How difficult it is sometimes to explain yourself to yourself. Sometimes there only is, and no knowing. (12.2)
Jacob thinks this on the way to meet Geertrui in the nursing home. He seems to have a harder time than most connecting with himself. Do you think this changes by the end of the book?
Quote #6
"Maybe we should always start everything from the inside and work to the outside, and not from the outside to the inside. Maybe life would be better that way. What d'you think?" (15.25)
Hille says this to Jacob and we don't think she's talking literally—it's really more about looking inside someone and figuring out who they are than, say, exploring their organs. This is what she wants to do with Jacob, but he's still figuring it out for himself.