You’ll find your own way to discuss what happened to you. You’ll have to, if you ever want to be close to anyone.
-- Ana (chapter 2.1)

Importance: Ana, the kind social worker who helped Jude, gave this advice to Jude in reference to the traumas of his childhood. Ana is correct in believing that expression and communication are necessary in order to overcome trauma and form close relationships. Unfortunately, throughout the novel, Jude is almost never able to talk about or confront his past traumas, and his denial only worsens the mental/emotional effects of said traumas.

They hit him with whatever they could find…they called him a monster, they wished for his death…
-- Narration (chapter 2.1)

Importance: This line of narration provides one of the novel's first insights into the traumas of Jude's past. at the monetary, Jude suffered extreme emotional and physical abuse, which contributed to his mental/emotional problems later in life...