Discovering witnesses is just as important as catching criminals.
Simon WiesenthalRead
The schools would fail through their silence, the Church through its forgiveness, and the home through the denial and silence of the parents. The new generation has to hear what the older generation refuses to tell it.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the importance of communication between generations about uncomfortable truths and histories.
Simon Wiesenthal's quote reflects on the critical role of openness in education, spirituality, and family dynamics. He argues that silence from schools, churches, and parents leads to a failure to impart essential knowledge and moral lessons to the younger generation. This failure, rooted in a reluctance to address uncomfortable truths, ultimately hampers growth and understanding in society. Wiesenthal invites older generations to confront their pasts and share their experiences, asserting that it is essential for the new generation to learn from the insights that are often neglected or hushed.
Themes
CommunicationTruthEducationGenerationsSilence
In practice
Example use cases
During a public seminar on family communication, this quote can emphasize the necessity of discussing difficult topics.
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You're a religious man, ... You believe in God and life after death. I also believe. When we come to the other world and meet the millions of Jews who died in the camps and they ask us, 'What have you done?' there will be many answers. You will say, 'I became a jeweler.' Another will say, 'I smuggled coffee and American cigarettes.' Another will say, 'I built houses.' But I will say, 'I didn't forget you.'
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