This is how I heard the story.
-- Narration (chapter 1)

Importance: This is the very first sentence of the novel, and while at first it appears to specifically reference the first anecdote, it carries significant implications for the structure and themes of the entire novel. The novel is mostly made up of stories that the narrator heard second-hand, so the significance and interpretations of those stories is heavily altered by the narrator’s own point of view. This first line subtly references that narrative dynamic.

You went looking for trouble, and you found it. Consistent behavior produces predictable results.
-- Colonel Bill Donovan (chapter 4)

Importance: One of the grandfather’s main characteristics, especially in his younger years, is that he is drawn to trouble. Donovan articulates this impression of the grandfather multiple times in this exchange. This trait defines many of the grandfather’s major choices throughout his life, and Donovan’s statements signal the reader to take note of...