Wallace Price was... certainly alive. And now he's not. For the life of me, I can't quite say that's a terrible thing. He wasn't a good person... He was obstinate, foolhardy, and cared only for himself.
-- Naomi (Chapter 2)

Importance: This quote establishes how the people around Wallace see him, directly contradicting how he views himself. Up until this point, the reader has seen Wallace make some very selfish and thoughtless decisions. They know he is entirely focused on work and is trying to convince himself that the things he has are giving him happiness. However, Naomi's speech at his funeral - as well as the lack of reactions from Wallace's business partners - is a painful moment. For the reader, it confirms that the misgivings they may have had about Wallace in the introduction were genuine, even if he could not see it. For Wallace, it is a sobering moment that leads to...