We have to help ourselves first in order to be in a position to help others. This is a a reason why many persons go to college. How much help would a person be able to give in the Peace Corps, if that person did not know the language and customs of the country and basic information about nutrition, health, and construction?" (P.L.E 1). As the quote explains the only time when one can be truly selfless is when a person is in a position to help, which neither of the characters are this is why they did what they did, to survive. When Hans Hubermann helps the marching Jews, he does not have the means to weather the consequences. This demonstrates another type of philosophy, ethical egoism, "While psychological egoism purports to tell us how people do in fact behave, ethical egoism tells us how people ought to behave" (McConnell 41). This reflects Hans's attitude, he gives when he cannot give he is a provider and will sacrifice himself for others. Egoism is just one philosophy that Zusak depicts, another one being the power of words.
The power of words is one of the most commonly depicted philosophy in The Book Thief, the philosophy is seen throughout the book and is a sustained theme until the end of the novel. The power of words have the ability to sway crowds, topple governments or educate the misguided. In Nazi Germany, Hitler seized power solely with words, taking advantage of a vulnerable situation in a vulnerable country. George Orwell states in his novel 1984 "But if thought corrupts language language can also corrupt thought" this quote demonstrates the power of words. In the right hands language can teach but in the wrong hands language can corrupt the minds of the people, this is how Hitler created his totalitarian regime. Contrary to Hitler, Liesel was practically unlettered giving her a distinct disadvantage in society. "The limits of my language means the limits of my world" (Wittgenstein).
