The opposite of love is not hate, it's indifference.
Elie WieselRead
Never shall I forget these things, even if I am condemned to life as long as God himself
Interpretation
The speaker emphasizes the importance of remembering his painful experiences, regardless of suffering.
In this quote, Elie Wiesel underscores the significance of memory in the face of extraordinary suffering and horror. The refusal to forget, even when faced with life’s worst tragedies, reflects a deep commitment to truth and the lessons learned from painful experiences, serving as a powerful reminder of resilience and the human spirit's ability to endure.
In practice
This quote can be used in a speech about the importance of remembering history to prevent future atrocities.
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.
For us, warriors are not what you think of as warriors. The warrior is not someone who fights, because no one has the right to take another life. The warrior, for us, is one who sacrifices himself for the good of others. His task is to take care of the elderly, the defenseless, those who can not provide for themselves, and above all, the children, the future of humanity.
Women have always been courageous... They are always fearless when protecting their children and in the last century they have been fearless in the fight for their rights.
My whole love and respect is for the person who accepts himself totally, as he is. He has courage. He has courage to face the whole pressure of the society which is bent upon splitting him into divisions — into good and bad, into saint and sinner. He is really a brave, courageous being who stands against the whole history of man, of morality, and declares to the skies his reality, whatever it is.
What do we say to the Lord of Death?" "Not today.
The person who runs away exposes himself to that very danger more than a person who sits quietly.
So they didn't let anybody else off. I can't live like this, I'm finished. Auschwitz was easy.
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