Discovering witnesses is just as important as catching criminals.
Simon WiesenthalRead
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.'
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects on the importance of remembrance and responsibility towards those who suffered in the past.
In this quote, Simon Wiesenthal expresses the profound significance of keeping alive the memory of those who perished, particularly during the Holocaust. He emphasizes that while others may recount their earthly achievements, his response would be rooted in the moral obligation of remembrance, highlighting that forgetting the suffering of others is a grave injustice. This moral stance calls for a deeper understanding of history and the responsibilities we hold towards one another, making it a philosophical reflection on human values and accountability.
Themes
RemembranceResponsibilityHolocaustMemorySuffering
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech commemorating Holocaust Remembrance Day.
More from Simon Wiesenthal
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My cause was justice, not vengeance. My work is for a better tomorrow and a more secure future for our children and grandchildren.
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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.
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We know that we are not collectively guilty, so how can we accuse any other nation, no matter what some of its people have done, of being collectively guilty?
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Human rights is the only ideology that deserves to survive
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If one cannot risk oneself, then one is simply incapable of giving. And, after all, one can give freedom only by setting someone free.
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