Chapter 1-5 References & Quotes

Henry Kissinger:  "American political scientist, who, as adviser for national security affairs and secretary of state, was a major influence in the shaping of foreign policy from 1969 to 1976 under Presidents Richard M. Nixon and Gerald R. Ford. In 1973 he was jointly awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace with Le Duc Tho of North Vietnam for their efforts to negotiate a peaceful settlement of the Vietnam War." (©2014 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.).
In The Kite Runner: 'At one point Baba pointed to someone. "Amir, do you see that man sitting up there with those other men around him?" I did. "That's Henry Kissinger." "Oh," I said. I didn't know who Henry Kissinger was, and I might have asked.'

Steve McQueen: "Terence Steven "Steve" McQueen was an American actor. Called "The King of Cool", his "anti-hero" persona, developed at the height of the Vietnam War-era counterculture, made him a top box-office draw of the 1960s and 1970s." (Wikipedia).
In the Kite Runner: "Then, Baba and I drove off in his black Ford Mustang- a car that drew envious looks everywhere because it was the same car Steve McQueen had driven in Bullitt, a film that played in one theater for six months."

Zahir Shah: "Mohammed Zahir Shah (Pashto: محمد ظاهرشاه October 15, 1914 – July 23, 2007) was the last King of Afghanistan, reigning for four decades, from 1933 until he was ousted by a coup in 1973. Following his return from exile, he was given the title 'Father of the Nation' in 2002, which he held until his death.<sup>[2] " (Wikipedia).

"There is only one sin, only one. And that is theft. Every other sin is a variation of theft." (pg.17) 
Baba, who was talking to Amir about sin, stated this quote. This quote means that every wrong thing we do relates to theft in some way. Not just stealing something physically like an object, but a feeling or like, stealing someone's trust or faithfulness, things like that. 

"A boy who won't stand up for himself becomes a man who can't stand up to anything." (pg.22)
Baba, who was talking to Ali about Amir, also stated this quote. This quote means that there will come a time in life where you will need to stand up for yourself, and if not yourself, stand up for anything. If you don't learn at a young age to stand up for yourself, then when you're older and have more complicated problems, you won't be able to stand up for anything. 
"...a person who wastes his God-given talents is a donkey." (pg.32)</sup>