Quotes from book

The Book Thief

“She took a step and didn't want to take any more, but she did.”

“The only thing worse than a boy who hates you: a boy that loves you.”

“I have to say that although it broke my heart, I was, and still am, glad I was there.”

“Whoever named Himmel Street certainly had a healthy sense of irony. Not that is was a living hell. It wasn't. But is sure as hell wasn't heaven, either.”

“You might well ask just what the hell he was thinking. The answer is, probably nothing at all. He'd probably say he was exercising his God-given right to stupidity.”

“There were people everywhere on the city street, but the stranger could not have been more alone if it were empty.”

“… one opportunity leads directly to another, just as risk leads to more risk, life to more life, and death to more death.”

“But then, is there cowardice in the acknowledgment of fear? Is there cowardice in being glad that you lived?”

“Trust me, though, the words were on their way, and when they arrived, Liesel would hold them in her hands like the clouds, and she would wring them out, like the rain. (p. 85)”

“July 24, 6:03 A. M.
The laundry was warm and the rafters were firm, and Michael Holzapfel jumped from the chair as if it were a cliff…
Michael Holzapfel knew what he was doing.
He killed himself for wanting to live.”

“Still, they have one thing I envy. Humans, if nothing else, have the good sense to die.”

“As always, she was carrying the washing. Rudy was carrying two buckets of cold water, or as he put it, two buckets of future ice.”

“You cannot be afraid, Read the book. Smile at it. It's a great book-the greatest book you've ever read.”

“She kept watching the words.”

“A book floated down the Amper River.
A boy jumped in, caught up to it, and held
it in his right hand. He grinned. He stood
waist-deep in the icy, Decemberish water.
“How about a kiss, Saumensch?” he said.”

“It amazes me what humans can do, even when streams are flowing down their faces and they stagger on, coughing and searching, and finding.”

“Even enemies were an inch away from friendship.”

“… And the boy whose hair remained the color of lemons forever.”

“Liesel's blood had dried inside of her. It crumbled. She almost broke into pieces on the steps.”