The opposite of love is not hate, it's indifference.
Elie WieselRead
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.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote expresses a strong moral opposition to the death penalty, emphasizing the inhumanity of taking a life.
Elie Wiesel's quote highlights a profound ethical stance against the death penalty by advocating for the sanctity of life. He argues that a truly civilized society should not endorse capital punishment, as it represents a fundamental moral failure and dehumanization of both the state and the individual, ultimately portraying the executioner as an 'agent of death.'
Themes
Death PenaltyMoralityJusticeHumanityCivilization
In practice
Example use cases
During a debate on criminal justice reform, one could use this quote to advocate against capital punishment.
More from Elie Wiesel
All quotes →Certain things, certain events, seem inexplicable only for a time: up to the moment when the veil is torn aside.
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.
Elie WieselRead
No one is as capable of gratitude as one who has escaped the kingdom of night.
Elie WieselRead
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.
Elie WieselRead
I've given my life to the principle and the ideal of memory, and remembrance.
Elie WieselRead
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Ultimately, there is no entity called 'government'; there are only people forming themselves into groups called 'governments' and acting in a 'governmental' manner.
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Experience should teach us to be most on our guard to protect liberty when the Government's purposes are beneficent. Men born to freedom are naturally alert to repel invasion of their liberty by evil-minded rulers. The greatest dangers to liberty lurk in the insidious encroachment by men of zeal, well meaning but without understanding.
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The only way to be sure of catching a train is to miss the one before it.
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