Like all the pharaohs, emperors, and tyrants before him, Il Duce had seen his empire rise only to crumble. Indeed, by that late-spring afternoon, power was bleeding from Benito Mussolini’s grasp like joy from a young widowed heart.”
-- Pino (chapter 1)

Importance: As the first two sentences in the novel, this quote carries a particular impact from being one of the most prescient. It shows history as already having been decided and foreshadows the tragedy that is to come.

Pino thought Schuster’s expression the most indelible thing about him; his smiling face spoke of kindness, but his eyes held the threat of damnation.”
-- Cardinal Schuster (chapter 1)

Importance: In his youthful naivety, Pino has difficulty reading the expressions of older and wiser people. He prefers the simple life and is intimidated by the complexity in the cardinal's gaze.

He was being treated like a boy. But had he gone to his knees and cried in public? No...
-- Pino (chapter 5)