The opposite of love is not hate, it's indifference.
Elie WieselRead
I never felt any attraction towards violence. I never tried to express myself through violence. Violence is a language.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Elie Wiesel emphasizes that violence is not a means of expression for him, highlighting its nature as a language that conveys deeper issues.
In this quote, Elie Wiesel reflects on his personal aversion to violence and rejection of it as a form of communication. By stating that violence is a language, he suggests that it carries messages and signifies deeper conflicts that should be addressed through dialogue rather than aggression. Wiesel's assertion invites contemplation on the reasons behind violent acts and the importance of seeking understanding rather than resorting to harm.
Themes
ViolenceLanguageCommunicationUnderstandingConflict
In practice
Example use cases
In a debate about social justice, one might use this quote to highlight the futility of violence in resolving conflicts.
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.
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
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