How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
"Think, my dear. We owe it to these people. They've come to help us. We must do what we can to help them. And think of our daughter. Isn't it natural she wants to play her part? When this horror is over, what would you have her say, that she had to stand by and watch while others took all the risks?" (2.44)
Just when we are expecting Geertrui's mom to shut her down, she goes to bat for her with Geertrui's dad. Courage is something that Geertrui's family gets—even when it's hard. She might be nineteen, but she's allowed to help out, just like her parents and brother.
Quote #2
At first I was squeamish, but I discovered then how quickly you learn to cope with terrible things if you have no choice. And luckily I inherit from my mother a practical view of life. While we worked, the soldiers told us about their homes and families, their friends and girlfriends, and showed us photos. Mostly they were very young, nineteen and twenty, and I think wanted more than anything to be mothered. (2.57)
Sure the soldiers were brave and acting heroically, but Geertrui shows a different side of them too—they also were so young and just want some love from a mom. Our hearts go out to these poor guys who are fighting in a far away land for people they've never met.
Quote #3
I can shake off everything if I write; my sorrows disappear, my courage is reborn. (3.1)
This quote from Anne Frank starts off Chapter 3 with a bang, mainly because we're asked to make a comparison between Anne and Jacob. She too finds solitude and comfort in writing and reading, even when it's scary for her.
Quote #4
She had such courage. And she really knew what she wanted out of life. I wish I had her courage. And I wish I knew myself that well. (4.108)
Jacob thinks this about Anne Frank, yet we've just had a quote from her telling us that sometimes she was scared or sad too. Jacob might idolize Anne, but we can see that she had her off-days too.
Quote #5
It struck me even then that his bravery in the face of his suffering was quite as great as the bravery of the men who went on battling to save us. (5.62)
When Jacob is recovering from his injuries, he doesn't complain or act like a victim—so in a way, he's just as courageous inside as he was outside when he was fighting. Courage isn't about yielding a weapon and running into battle; it's about being brave in a situation that's scary.
Quote #6
We were lucky that the German had not spotted us before he stood up, we were lucky that he hesitated, we were lucky that Dirk moved so quickly , we were lucky that Jacob's gun was ready to fire, and we were lucky that the gun's mechanism worked properly despite the conditions. As so often at such times, especially in war, the outcome depended on luck. Not on heroism, if heroism depends on rational thought, for there was no time for thought. Only on the irrational, arbitrary, unjust nature of luck. (10.3)
Geertrui initially thinks Jacob is ridiculous for blaming bad luck for the fact that he was hurt, but as she lives through the war, she changes her tune. Luck is a major player.
Quote #7
"Have you had cause?"
"To be brave? Does bravery need a cause?"
"There can be none without." (12.40)
Now that's the question. Geertrui asks Jacob if he's ever even had reason to be brave, and it turns out he hasn't. She thinks that bravery comes out of a situation, not just a person.
Quote #8
"It's not that I don't believe in bravery or courage or those things. Just, I think most people are brave and courageous but in different ways and different—how do you say? gelegenheden—occasions." (14.143)
Hmm… now where have we heard this before? Hille echoes what Geertrui says about courage—she too thinks that anyone can be brave in the right circumstances. Do you agree? Or are some people just braver than others?
Quote #9
"Yes. Ordinary people's bravery. To me that's real bravery. But you don't get medals for it or monuments put up for it." (15.66)
Hille's already decided what she wants to happen to her if she gets in an accident or is on her deathbed. For such a youngster, she's got it all figured out—and too her, that's an act of courage. She thinks it's more about everyday life than huge moments of bravery in war and stuff.
Quote #10
Ton gave a little huffing laugh. "Bravery, it isn't! It's just how we believe life should be. Not for everyone. But for us. And people who think like us. We're learning how to live it while we live it. What else is worth doing?" (21.106)
For Jacob, Ton being openly gay is brave, but for Ton, it isn't. Their conversation makes us consider the idea that what might be hard for some people might not take as much courage in others.