The Book Thief quotes with page numbers reveal the raw power of bravery and compassion.
Markus Zusak’s masterpiece, narrated by Death, follows Liesel Meminger—a girl who steals books in Nazi Germany. She learns to read with her foster father Hans, risking everything to shelter a Jewish man.
These lines, pulled from the Delacorte Press 2006 edition, trace her journey through a world of beauty and brutality.
Whether you’re here for Liesel’s grit or Death’s wry voice, this collection organizes Zusak’s best by part and theme. Dive in and feel the weight of words that linger. What’s your favorite quote? Share it below!
Prologue: Death’s First Words in The Book Thief.
Death kicks off with a quirky twist—he sees colors before humans. His wry voice sets an eerie yet human tone for Liesel’s tale.
“First the colors.
Then the humans.
That’s usually how I see things.
Or at least, how I try.”~Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, (by Death), Page 3
“Please, trust me, I most definitely can be cheerful. I can be amiable. Agreeable. Affable. And that’s only the A’s. Just don’t ask me to be nice. Nice has nothing to do with me.”
~Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, (by Death), about kindness, Page 3
You are going to die….does this worry you?”
~Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, (by Death), about death, Page 3
“I am in all truthfulness attempting to be cheerful about this whole topic, though most people find themselves hindered in believing me, no matter my protestations. Please, trust me. I most definitely can be cheerful. I can be amiable. Agreeable. Affable. And that’s only the A’s. Just don’t ask me to be nice. Nice has nothing to do with me.”
~Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, (by Death), about kindness, Page 3
“I could introduce myself properly, but it’s not really necessary. You will know me well enough and soon enough, depending on a diverse range of variables. It suffices to say that at some point in time, I will be standing over you, as genially as possible. Your soul will be in my arms. A color will be perched on my shoulder. I will carry you gently away.”
~Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, (by Death), about death, Page 4
“People observe the colors of a day only at its beginnings and ends, but to me it’s quite clear that a day merges through a multitude of shades and intonations with each passing moment. A single hour can consist of thousands of different colors. Waxy yellows, cloud-spot blues. Murky darkness. In my line of work, I make it a point to notice them.”
~Marcus Zusak, The Book Thief, (by Death), Page 4
“It’s a small story really, about, among other things:
* A girl
* Some words
* An accordionist
* Some fanatical Germans
* A Jewish fist fighter
* And quite a lot of thievery”~Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, (by Death), about good and evil, Page 5
Part One: The Grave Digger’s Handbook, Growing Up A Saumensch
Liesel’s love for words sparks amid loss and new bonds. From a graveyard theft to Hans’ lessons, her story takes root here.
“When she came to write her story, she would wonder when the books and the words started to mean not just something, but everything.”
~Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, (by Death), about books and words, Page 30
This foreshadows Liesel’s transformation—words aren’t just an escape, they’re her legacy.
“No matter how many times she was told that she was loved, there was no recognition that the proof was in the abandonment.”
~Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, (by Death), Page 32
The Woman With The Iron Fist
Rosa’s tough love hides a fierce heart. This shift reveals the Hubermanns’ complex care.
“A DEFINITION NOT FOUND
IN THE DICTIONARY
Not leaving: an act of trust and love,
often deciphered by children”~Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, (by Death), about words, Page 37
The Kiss
Rudy Steiner enters with a snowball and a grin. These quotes mark the messy, tender start of a bond that shapes Liesel’s world.
“A snowball in the face is surely the perfect beginning to a lasting friendship.”
~Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, (by Death), about friendship, Page 48
Rudy’s mischief cements their bond. Death’s dry humor hints at a friendship too bright to last.
“The only thing worse than a boy who hates you: a boy that loves you.”
~Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, (by Death), about love, Page 52
“What do you want to kiss me for? I’m filthy.’- Liesel
So am I.’- Rudy”~Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, (by Liesel and Rudy), Page 54
The Jesse Owens Incident
Rudy’s defiance paints him black like Jesse Owens. It’s a quiet rebellion Death admires.
“Somewhere, far down, there was an itch in his heart, but he made it a point not to scratch it. He was afraid of what might come leaking out.”
~Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, (by Death), about Rudy’s father, Page 60
The Heavyweight Champion Of The School-Yard
Liesel finds her voice as Rudy fights his battles. Words and fists shape their youth.
“He was the crazy one who had painted himself black and defeated the world.
She was the book thief without the words.
Trust me, though, the words were on their way, and when they arrived, Liesel would hold them in her hands like the clouds, and she would wring them out like rain.”
~Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, (by Death), about words, Page 80
Rudy’s wild spirit contrasts Liesel’s quiet strength. Death pairs them as rebels without words—yet.
Part Two: The Shoulder Shrug, The Girl Made of Darkness
Liesel’s second theft fuels her resolve. Darkness cloaks her, but hope flickers through.
“…one opportunity leads directly to another, just as risk leads to more risk, life to more life, and death to more death.”
~Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, (by Death), about death, Page 83
“Like most misery, it started with apparent happiness.”
~Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, (by Death), Page 84
The Joy Of Cigarettes
Hans’ kindness shines in small acts. These moments bind him to Liesel amid war’s haze.
“It’s hard to not like a man who not only notices the colors, but speaks them.”
~Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, (by Death), about Hans Hubermann, symbolism quotes, Page 87
“It’s a lot easier, she realized, to be on the verge of something than to actually be it. This would still take time.”
~Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, (by Death), about Liesel, Page 87
“As always, one of her books was next to her.”
~Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, (by Death), about books, Page 90
100 Percent Pure German Sweat
A book burning tests Liesel’s courage. Death sees humanity’s knack for destruction escalate.
“I guess humans like to watch a little destruction. Sand castles, houses of cards, that’s where they begin. Their great skills is their capacity to escalate.”
~Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, (by Death), about humanity, Page 109
Part Three: Mein Kampf, The Mayor’s Library
Ilsa Hermann’s books stun Liesel with possibility. This haven fuels her word obsession.
“She said it out loud, the words distributed into a room that was full of cold air and books. Books everywhere! Each wall was armed with overcrowded yet immaculate shelving. It was barely possible to see paintwork. There were all different styles and sizes of lettering on the spines of the black, the red, the gray, the every-colored books. It was one of the most beautiful things Liesel Meminger had ever seen.
With wonder, she smiled.
That such a room existed!”
~Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, (by Death), about words and books, Page 134
The Attributes Of Summer
“He was waving. “Saukerl,” she laughed, and as she held up her hand, she knew completely that he was simultaneously calling her a Saumensch. I think that’s as close to love as eleven-year-olds can get.”
~Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, (by Death), about love, Page 144
“You cannot be afraid, Read the book. Smile at it. It’s a great book-the greatest book you’ve ever read.”
~Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, (by Death), about Max, Page 151
“You can’t eat books, sweetheart.”
~Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, (by Arthur Berg), about books, Page 151
Tricksters
“So much good, so much evil. Just add water.”
~Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, (by Death), about good and evil, Page 164
The Struggler, Concluded
“If they killed him tonight, at least he would die alive.”
~Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, (by Death), about Max, Page 168
Part Four: The Standover Man, The Accordionist
Max Vandenburg brings fear and friendship to the basement. His story intertwines with Liesel’s, defying a brutal world.
“A small but noteworthy note. I’ve seen so many young men over the years who think they’re running at other young men. They are not. They are running at me.”
~Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, (by Death), about death, Pages 174-75
Death’s aside chills us—war’s youth run toward him, not each other. It’s a stark pivot to Max’s fight
A Short History Of The Jewish Fist Fighter
“When death captures me,” the boy vowed, “he will feel my fist in his face.”
~Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, (by Death), about Max, Page 189
The Swapping Of Nightmares
“Imagine smiling after a slap in the face. Then think of doing it twenty-four hours a day.
That was the business of hiding a Jew.”
~Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, (by Death), about Max, Page 211
Part Five: The Whistler, The Floating Book (Part 1)
Rudy chases a book in icy water, longing for Liesel’s kiss. Death lingers close, hinting at joys and losses ahead.
“A book floated down the Amper River.
A boy jumped in, caught up to it, and held
it in his right hand. He grinned. He stood
waist-deep in the icy, Decemberish water.
“How about a kiss, Saumensch?” he said.”~Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, (by Death and Rudy Steiner), about books, Page 241
“On many counts, taking a boy like Rudy Steiner was robbery–so much life, so much to live for–yet somehow, I’m certain he would have loved to see the frightening rubble and the swelling of the sky on the night he passed away. He’d have cried and turned and smiled if only he could have seen the book thief on her hands and knees, next to his decimated body. He’d have been glad to witness her kissing his dusty, bomb-hit lips.
Yes, I know it.
In the darkness of my dark-beating heart, I know. He’d have loved it all right.
You see?
Even death has a heart.”
~Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, (by Death), about death, Page 242
This softens Death’s edge. He mourns Rudy, proving even he feels loss.
The Gamblers
“Of course, I’m being rude. I’m spoiling the ending, not only of the entire book, but of this particular piece of it. I have given you two events in advance, because I don’t have much interest in building mystery. Mystery bores me. It chores me. I know what happens and so do you. It’s the machinations that wheel us there that aggravate, perplex, interest, and astound me. There are many things to think of. There is much story.”
~Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, (by Death), about books, Page 243
“It was a Monday and they walked on a tightrope to the sun.”
~Marcus Zusak, The Book Thief, (by Death), about Max, Page 249
The Floating Book (Part II)
“How about a kiss, Saumensch?”
He stood waist-deep in the water for a few moments longer before climbing out and handing her the book. His pants clung to him, and he did not stop walking. In truth, I think he was afraid. Rudy Steiner was scared of the book thief’s kiss. He must have longed for it so much. He must have loved her so incredibly hard. So hard that he would never ask for her lips again and would go to his grave without them.”
~Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, (by Death and Rudy), about books, Page 303
Part Six: The Dream Carrier, Death’s Diary: 1942
War burdens Death with souls in 1942. His weariness pairs with surprising care.
“It was a year for the ages, like 79, like 1346, to name just a few. Forget the scythe,…, I needed a broom or a mop. And I needed a vacation. ”
~Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, (by Death), about death, Page 307
“A SMALL PIECE OF TRUTH
I do not carry a sickle or scythe.
I only wear a hooded black robe when it’s cold.
And I don’t have those skull-like facial features you seem to enjoy pinning on me from a distance. You want to know what I truly look like? I’ll help you out. Find yourself a mirror while I continue.”
~Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, (by Death), about death, Page 307
Death debunks myths with sass, showing his weariness. In 2025, it’s a reminder of war’s endless toll.
“You’re a human, you should understand self-obsession.”
~Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, (by Death), about humanity, Page 307
“They say that war is death’s best friend, but I must offer you a different point of view on that one. To me, war is like the new boss who expects the impossible. He stands over your shoulder repeating one thin, incessantly: ‘Get it done, get it done.’ So you work harder. You get the job done. The boss, however, does not thank you. He asks for more.”
~Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, (by Death), about death, Page 309
The Snowman
“Often I wish this would all be over, Liesel, but then somehow you do something like walk down the basement steps with a snowman in your hands.”
~Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, (by Max Vandenburg), about kindness, Page 313
Death’s Diary: Cologne
I carried them in my fingers, like suitcases. Or I’d throw them over my shoulder. It was only the children I carried in my arms. ”
~Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, (by Death), about death, Page 336
Death’s Diary: The Parisians
“Please believe me when I tell you that I picked up each soul that day as if it were newly born. I even kissed a few weary, poisoned cheeks. I listened to their last, gasping cries. Their vanishing words. I watched their love visions and freed them from their fear.”
~Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, (by Death), about death, Page 350
Part Seven: The Complete Deden Dictionary, Champagne and Accordions
Hans’ tunes and Liesel’s days shine. Death cautions: shadows follow light.
“She wanted none of those days to end, and it was always with disappointment that she watched the darkness stride forward. ”
~Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, (by Death, about Liesel Meminger, Page 355-56
“If only she could be so oblivious again, to feel such love without knowing it, mistaking it for laughter. ”
~Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, (by Death), Page 358
The Trilogy
“Can a person steal happiness? Or is just another internal, infernal human trick?”
~Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, (by Death), about humanity, Page 370
“I…” He struggled to answer. “When everything was quiet, I went up to the corridor and the curtain in the livingroom was open just a crack… I could see outside. I watched, only for a few seconds.” He had not seen the outside world for twenty-two months.
There was no anger or reproach.
It was Papa who spoke.
How did it look?”
Max lifted his head, with great sorrow and great astonishment. “There were stars,” he said. “They burned by eyes.”
~Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, (by Hans Hubermann and Max Vandenburg), Pages 377-78
The Sky Stealer
“One was a book thief. The other stole the sky.”
~Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, (by Death) about liesel and Max, Page 381
Frau Holtzapfel’s Offer
“Two weeks to change the world, fourteen days to ruin it.”
~Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, (by Death), about good and evil, Page 388
Part Eight: The Word Shaker, Dominoes And Darkness
Words build and break in this clash of good and evil. Liesel and Max find strength in their shared defiance.
“Together, they would watch everything that was so carefully planned collapse, and they would smile at the beauty of destruction.”
~Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, (by Death), symbolism quotes, Page 408
The Promise Keeper’s Wife
“My heart is so tired”
~Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, (by Liesel Meminger), Page 427
Part Nine: The Last Human Stranger, The Card Player
Loss carves deeper as Himmel Street frays. Death marvels at humanity’s grit through Liesel’s eyes.
“It kills me sometimes, how people die.”
~Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, (by Death), about death, Page 464
“for some reason, dying men always ask the question they know the answer to. perhaps it’s so they can die being right.”
~Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, (by Death), about death, Page 469
The Ageless Brother
“There were people everywhere on the city street, but the stranger could not have been more alone if it were empty.”
~Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, (a quote from Liesel’s most recent book), Page 473
One Toolbox, One Bleeder, One Bear
“The consequence of this is that I’m always finding humans at their best and worst. I see their ugly and their beauty, and I wonder how the same thing can be both.”
~Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, (by Death), about good and evil, Page 491
“Humans, if nothing else, have the good sense to die.”
~Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, (by Death), about death and humanity, Page 491
“A human doesn’t have a heart like mine. The human heart is a line, whereas my own is a circle, and I have the endless ability to be in the right place at the right time. The consequence of this is that I’m always finding humans at their best and worst. I see their ugly and their beauty, and I wonder how the same thing can be both. Still, they have one thing I envy. Humans, if nothing else, have the good sense to die.”
~Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, (by Death), about humanity, Page 491
THE NINETY-EIGHTH DAY
“Have me,” they said, and there was no stopping them. They were frightened, no question, but they were not afraid of me. It was a fear of messing up and having to face themselves again, and facing the world, and the likes of you.”
~Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, (by Death), about fear and death, Page 503
Part Ten, The Book Thief, Way Of The Words
Bombs fall, and souls rise in this shattering close. Liesel’s words—and loves—face their final test.
“Max,” she said. He turned and briefly closed his eyes as the girl continued.
There was once a strange, small man,” she said. Her arms were loose but her hands were fists at her side. “But there was a word shaker, too.”
One of the Jews on his way to Dachau had stopped walking now. He stood absolutely still as the others swerved morosely around him, leaving him completely alone. His eyes staggered, and it was so simple. The words were given across from the girl to the Jew. They climbed on to him.
The next time she spoke, the questions stumbled from her mouth. Hot tears fought for room in her eyes as she would not let them out. Better to stand resolute and proud. Let the words do all of it. “Is it really you? the young man asked,” she said. ” Is it from your cheek that I took the seed?”
Max Vandenburg remained standing.
He did not drop to his knees.
People and Jews and clouds all stopped. They watched.
As he stood, Max looked first at the girl and then stared directly into the sky who was wide and blue and magnificent. There were heavy beams– planks of son– falling randomly, wonderfully to the road. Clouds arched their backs to look behind as they started again to move on. “It’s such a beautiful day,” he said, and his voice was in many pieces. A great day to die. A great day to die,like this.
Liesel walked at him. She was courageous enought to reach out and hold his bearded face. “Is it really you, Max?”
Such a brilliant German day and its attentive crowd.
He let his mouth kiss her palm. “Yes, Liesel, it’s me,” and he held the girl’s hand in his face and cried onto her fingers. He cried as the soldiers came and a small collection of insolent Jews stood and watched.”
~Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, (by Liesel and Max), about Max, Pages 512-13
Confessions
“Hair the color of lemons,'” Rudy read. His fingers touched the words. “You told him about me?”
At first, Liesel could not talk. Perhaps it was the sudden bumpiness of love she felt for him. Or had she always loved him? It’s likely. Restricted as she was from speaking, she wanted him to kiss her. She wanted him to drag her hand across and pull her over. It didn’t matter where. Her mouth, her neck, her cheek. Her skin was empty for it, waiting.
Years ago, when they’d raced on a muddy field, Rudy was a hastily assembled set of bones, with a jagged, rocky smile. In the trees this afternoon, he was a giver of bread and teddy bears. He was a triple Hitler Youth athletics champion. He was her best friend. And he was a month from his death.
Of course I told him about you,” Liesel said.”
~Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, (by Rudy and Liesel), Page 518
“She was saying goodbye and she didn’t even know it.”
~Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, (by Death), about death, Page 518
Ilsa Herman’s Little Black Book
“The words. Why did they have to exist? Without them, there wouldn’t be any of this.”
~Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, (by Hans Hubermann), about words, Page 521
Rib-cage Planes
“Sometimes I think my papa is an accordion. When he looks at me and smiles and breathes, I hear the notes.”
~Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, (by Liesel Meminger), Page 526
“I have hated words and I have loved them, and I hope I have made them right.”
~Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, (by Liesel Meminger), Page 528
The most important quote in the book. Liesel’s confession sums up her arc—words wound and save her. It’s Zusak’s nod to their double-edged power.
The End Of The World (Part II)
“His soul sat up. It met me. Those kinds of souls always do – the best ones. The ones who rise up and say “I know who you are and I am ready. Not that I want to go, of course, but I will come.” Those souls are always light because more of them have been put out. More of them have already found their way to other places.”
~Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, (by Death), about Hans, Page 531
“I carried [Rudy] softly through the broken street…with him I tried a little harder [at comforting]. I watched the contents of his soul for a moment and saw a black-painted boy calling the name Jesse Owens as he ran through an imaginary tape. I saw him hip-deep in some icy water, chasing a book, and I saw a boy lying in bed, imagining how a kiss would taste from his glorious next-door neighbor. He does something to me, that boy. Every time. It’s his only detriment. He steps on my heart. He makes me cry.”
~Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, (by Death) about Rudy, Page 531
“He does something to me, that boy. Every time. It’s his only detriment. He steps on my heart. He makes me cry.”
~Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, (by Death), about Rudy, Page 531
“Make no mistake, the woman had a heart. She had a bigger one that people would think. There was a lot in it, stored up, high in miles of hidden shelving. Remember that she was the woman with the instrument strapped to her body in the long, moon-slit night.”
~Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, (by Death), about Rosa Hubermann, Page 532
“I have to say that although it broke my heart, I was, and still am, glad I was there.”
~Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, (by Death), about death, Page 533
“The tears grappled with her face.
Rudy, please, wake up,…wake up, I love you. Come on, Rudy, come on, Jesse Owens, don’t you know I love you, wake up, wake up, wake up..”
But nothing cared…
She leaned down and looked at his lifeless face and Liesel kissed her best friend, Rudy Steiner, soft and true on his lips. He tasted dusty and sweet.
He tasted like regret in the shadows of trees and in the glow of the anarchist’s suit collection. She kissed him long and soft, and when she pulled herself away, she touched his mouth with her fingers. Her hands were tremblin, her lips were fleshy, and she leaned in once more, this time losing control and misjudging it. Their teeth collided on the demolished world of Himmel Street.”
~Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, (by Liesel Meminger), about Rudy and death, Pages 535-36
“She leaned down and looked at his lifeless face and Liesel kissed her best friend, Rudy Steiner, soft and true on his lips. He tasted dusty and sweet. He tasted like regret in the shadows of trees and in the glow of the anarchist’s suit collection. She kissed him long and soft, and when she pulled herself away, she touched his mouth with her fingers…She did not say goodbye. She was incapable, and after a few more minutes at his side, she was able to tear herself from the ground. It amazes me what humans can do, even when streams are flowing down their faces and they stagger on…”
~Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, (by Death), about Liesel, Rudy and death, Page 536
“She took a step and didn’t want to take any more, but she did.”
~Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, (by Death), about Liesel Meminger, Page 537
“Goodbye, Papa, you saved me. You taught me to read. No one can play like you. I’ll never drink champagne. No one can play like you.”
~Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, (by Liesel Meminger), about Hans Hubermann, Pages 538-39
Thief Epilogue, The Last Color, The Handover Man
Death reflects on Liesel’s life, haunted by humans. These final quotes weigh beauty against brutality.
“I wanted to tell the book thief many things, about beauty and brutality. But what could I tell her about those things that she didn’t already know? I wanted to explain that I am constantly overestimating and underestimating the human race-that rarely do I ever simply estimate it. I wanted to ask her how the same thing could be so ugly and so glorious, and its words and stories so damning and brilliant.”
~Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, (by Death) about good and evil, Page 550
“I wanted to explain that I am constantly overestimating and underestimating the human race – that rarely do I even simply estimate it. I wanted to ask her how the same thing could be so ugly and so glorious, and its words and stories so damning and brilliant…I AM HAUNTED BY HUMANS.”
~Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, (by Death), about humanity, Page 550
Death’s final line flips the script—we haunt him. It’s a 2025 gut-punch on humanity’s messy glory.
Why These Quotes Matter
These quotes spotlight Liesel’s fierce fight and Death’s quiet awe—timeless threads that still tug at us.
Liesel steals books to claim power in a world stripping it away, her courage echoing in every snatched page.
Death, usually cold, softens as he watches her, admitting humans baffle and break him. From Rudy’s doomed love to Max’s basement defiance, these lines mix hope with heartbreak. They’re not just words—they’re a mirror to our struggles, showing how we wrestle beauty from chaos.
Even now, they hit hard, proving stories outlast their tellers. Whether it’s Liesel’s word-shaking or Death’s haunted gaze, this collection reminds us: that resilience and wonder endure.
Further Reading:
100 Best Book Quotes With Page Numbers
How to Cite This Article:
MLA:
Mortis, Jeremy. “The Book Thief Quotes With Page Numbers.” Ageless Investing, 1 Jul. 2022, https://agelessinvesting.com/the-book-thief-quotes-with-page-numbers/. Accessed [insert reader’s date].
APA:
Mortis, J. (2022, July 1). The Book Thief quotes with page numbers. Ageless Investing. https://agelessinvesting.com/the-book-thief-quotes-with-page-numbers/