The opposite of love is not hate, it's indifference.
Elie WieselRead
But because of his telling, many who did not believe have come to believe, and some who did not care have come to care. He tells the story, out of infinite pain, partly to honor the dead, but also to warn the living - to warn the living that it could happen again and that it must never happen again. Better than one heart be broken a thousand times in the retelling, he has decided, if it means that a thousand other hearts need not be broken at all. (vi)
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes the importance of storytelling in preserving memory and warning others about the past to prevent future tragedies.
Elie Wiesel highlights the profound impact of sharing painful experiences and stories, suggesting that even though recounting these tales may cause temporary heartache, it serves a higher purpose of awareness and prevention. By honoring those who suffered and ensuring that their stories are remembered, he emphasizes the responsibility of the living to learn from history and safeguard against its repetition, thus prioritizing collective well-being over individual discomfort.
Themes
StorytellingMemoryPreventionHistoryPainWarning
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about historical awareness at a university, one might use this quote to emphasize the role of education in preventing future atrocities.
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.
Elie WieselRead
Certain things, certain events, seem inexplicable only for a time: up to the moment when the veil is torn aside.
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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
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