How we cite our quotes: (Part.Chapter.Paragraph), with the exception of Part V, which runs (Part#. "Short Title". Paragraph). Part V has no numbered chapters—only title headings.
Quote #1
The constitution did indeed guarantee freedom of speech, but the laws punished anything that could be considered an attack on State security. One never knew when the state would start screaming that this word or that was an attempt on its security. (I.2.4)
In Mirek's world (and Kundera's), language is a dicey subject. Whether spoken or written—in Mirek's case, it's mostly the written word that plagues him—opinions can run up against the regime at any time. Note how easily the government takes away the freedom of speech without actually have to revoke it: it's a right in theory now, rather than in practice.
Quote #2
The opponents had no great dream, only some tiresome and threadbare moral principles, with which they tried to patch the torn trousers of the established order. (I.5.4)
Kundera explains why and how the Communist Party was able to take control in his country. It's really quite simple: the party's opponents didn't have vision. No good sound bites. No shining ideals to bolster popularity. There was, however, a lot of disgust with the status quo and not much of an argument for keeping things as is.
Quote #3
And then those young, intelligent, and radical people suddenly had the strange feeling of having sent out into the world an act that had begun to lead a life of its own, had ceased to resemble the idea it was based on, and did not care about those who had created it. (I.5.7)
Once those intellectuals who had supported the Communist Party to the best of their abilities started to see their freedoms vanishing, they began to rethink their ideals. Sometimes, we just have to be extra careful what we wish for. We might get it, with a vengeance—and a side of secret police.