“إن لحظة السعادة الأخيرة على الإطلاق ،هي سعادةٌ فاضت عن حدّها بمقدار قطرةٍ واحدة … إنّها تحضرُ إليكَ مع الموت ”

“A noisi addicelapauradellatenerezza”

“Even judges' children hear something about the world, they go to the Black Sea like everyone in the country. They look out and feel the same urge to go somewhere, feel it tugging at them from head to toe. You don't have to be particularly bad off to think: This can't be a the life I get. The judges' children know as well as Lilli and me that the same sky that looks down on the border guards stretches all the way to Italy or Canada, where things are better than here. One way or the other, the attempt will be made, whether sooner or later, in this way or that.”

“When we don't speak, said Edgar, we become unbearable, and when we do, we make fools of ourselves.”

“If only the right person would have to leave, everyone else would be able to stay in the country.”

“Cuando callamos, resultamos desagradables ... cuando hablamos, quedamos en ridículo.”

“In this county, we had to walk, eat, sleep and love in fear.”