The opposite of love is not hate, it's indifference.
Elie WieselRead
We're alone, but we are capable of communicating to one another both our loneliness and our desire to break through it. You say, 'I'm alone.' Someone answers, 'I'm alone too.' There's a shift in the scale of power. A bridge is thrown between the two abysses.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote highlights the shared experience of loneliness and the power of communication in forging connections between individuals.
Elie Wiesel's quote underscores the profound impact that expressing our feelings of loneliness can have on connecting with others. By openly acknowledging our solitude, we invite others to share their experiences, transforming isolation into a shared understanding, thereby creating a bridge of empathy between individuals who may feel trapped in their respective abysses of loneliness.
Themes
LonelinessCommunicationConnectionEmpathyRelationships
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about mental health, one could use this quote to emphasize the importance of talking about loneliness.
More from Elie Wiesel
All quotes →With every cell of my being and with every fiber of my memory I oppose the death penalty in all forms. I do not believe any civilized society should be at the service of death. I don't think it's human to become an agent of the angel of death.
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Certain things, certain events, seem inexplicable only for a time: up to the moment when the veil is torn aside.
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No one is as capable of gratitude as one who has escaped the kingdom of night.
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My loyalty to my people, to our people, and to Israel comes first and prevents me from saying anything critical of Israel outside Israel… As a Jew I see my role as a melitz yosher, a defender of Israel: I defend even her mistakes… I must identify with whatever Israel does – even with her errors.
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I've given my life to the principle and the ideal of memory, and remembrance.
Elie WieselRead
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