The opposite of love is not hate, it's indifference.
Elie WieselRead
Friendship marks a life even more deeply than love. Love risks degenerating into obsession, friendship is never anything but sharing.
Interpretation
Friendship is a profound and fulfilling connection that transcends the intensity of romantic love.
In this quote, Elie Wiesel highlights the unique and essential role that friendship plays in our lives. While romantic love can become possessive or obsessive, true friendship is rooted in mutual understanding and support, providing a stable and enriching relationship that fosters genuine sharing and connection.
In practice
I shared this quote at my best friend's wedding to emphasize the importance of their friendship.
The opposite of love is not hate, it's indifference.
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.
Certain things, certain events, seem inexplicable only for a time: up to the moment when the veil is torn aside.
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.
No one is as capable of gratitude as one who has escaped the kingdom of night.
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.
There are no words to express the abyss between isolation and having one ally. It may be conceded to the mathematician that four is twice two. But two is not twice one; two is two thousand times one.
But friendship is precious, not only in the shade, but in the sunshine of life, and thanks to a benevolent arrangement the greater part of life is sunshine.
I finally faced the fact that it isn't a crime not having friends. Being alone means you have fewer problems.
Hear no ill of a friend, nor speak any of an enemy.
If you go looking for a friend, you're going to find they're very scarce. If you go out to be a friend, you'll find them everywhere.
We are all good friends. Friendship is what endures. Shared ideals, respect for the whole character of a human being.
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