You mark my words," my grandfather cried, waving his ever-present pipe as we listened. "They're going to hand this country over to that crazy Austrian.
-- Alfons' Grandfather (Chapter 1 paragraph 15)

Importance: The people in Germany were so thrilled to be coming out of poverty due to Hitler's changes that they ignored the ways in which he was accomplishing them. People like Alfons' grandfather could read between the lines and knew what was coming for the country under Hitler's rule.

No German boy can ever be true friends with a Jewish boy. No matter how nice he seems, he'll grow up to be your enemy.
-- Herr Becker (Chapter 1 paragraph 31)

Importance: Alfons' teacher, Herr Becker, instructs his German students to stay away from Jewish children and to reject them as friends. The young Germans take this hateful information to heart because it is delivered by their teacher, an authority figure in their lives.

Before which everything else in my short life paled...
-- Alfons Heck (Chapter 3 paragraph 13)