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In any society, fanatics who hate don't hate only me - they hate you, too. They hate everybody.
Elie Wiesel
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Fanaticism and hatred are pervasive and indiscriminate sentiments that affect everyone in society.

Elie Wiesel's quote highlights the dangers of fanaticism and hatred, suggesting that when individuals harbor such feelings, they are not targeting a single person but rather encompass a broader disdain for society itself. This serves as a reminder that hate is a corrosive force that ultimately harms everyone, not just its immediate victims.

Themes

FanaticismHatredSocietyUnityInclusion

In practice

Example use cases

In a speech about tolerance and acceptance, one might reference Wiesel's insight into the nature of hatred.

More from Elie Wiesel

The opposite of love is not hate, it's indifference.
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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.
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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.
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No one is as capable of gratitude as one who has escaped the kingdom of night.
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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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