“Jak trzeba by żyć, myślałam, żeby pasować do tego co się akurat myśli.”

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

“I'm always telling myself I don't have many feelings. Even when something does affect me I'm only moderately moved. I almost never cry. It's not that I'm stronger than the ones with teary eyes, I'm weaker. They have courage. When all you are is skin and bones, feelings are a brave thing. I'm more of a coward. The difference is minimal though, I just use my strength not to cry. When I do allow myself a feeling, I take the part that hurts and bandage it up with a story that doesn't cry, that doesn't dwell on homesickness.”

“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.”

“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.”