WIST Quotations

Wiesel, Elie -- Nobel Peace Prize Lecture (1986)

Dave — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 12:20:38 +0000

There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest.

Elie Wiesel (1928-2016) Romanian-American novelist, professor, political activist, Nobel Laureate.
Nobel Peace Prize Lecture (1986)

Wiesel, Elie -- “One Must Not Forget,” interview by Alvin P. Sanoff, US News & World Report (27 Oct 1986)

Dave — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 14:46:17 +0000

Indifference, to me, is the epitome of evil.
The opposite of love is not hate, it’s indifference.
The opposite of art is not ugliness, it’s indifference.
The opposite of faith is not heresy, it’s indifference.
And the opposite of life is not death, but indifference,
indifference between life and death.

Elie Wiesel (1928-2016) Romanian-American novelist, professor, political activist, Nobel Laureate.
“One Must Not Forget,” interview by Alvin P. Sanoff, US News & World Report (27 Oct 1986)

See also Nietzsche.

Wiesel, Elie -- (Attributed)

Dave — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 16:00:00 +0000

Whatever you say about God you should be able to say standing over a pit full of burning babies.

Elie Wiesel (1928-2016) Romanian-American novelist, professor, political activist, Nobel Laureate.
(Attributed)

Wiesel, Elie -- (Attributed)

Dave — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 16:00:00 +0000

There is one right I would not grant anyone. And that is the right to be indifferent.

Elie Wiesel (1928-2016) Romanian-American novelist, professor, political activist, Nobel Laureate.
(Attributed)

Wiesel, Elie -- (Attributed)

Dave — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 15:27:59 +0000

There are victories of the soul and spirit. Sometimes, even if you lose, you win.

Elie Wiesel (1928-2016) Romanian-American novelist, professor, political activist, Nobel Laureate.
(Attributed)

Wiesel, Elie -- A Jew Today, “To Be a Jew” (1978)

Dave — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 17:11:02 +0000

Where was God in all this? Was this another test, one more? Or a punishment? And if so, for what sins? What crimes were being punished? Was there a misdeed that deserved so many mass graves? Would it ever again be possible to speak of justice, of truth, of divine charity, after the murder of one million Jewish children?

Elie Wiesel (1928-2016) Romanian-American novelist, professor, political activist, Nobel Laureate.
A Jew Today, “To Be a Jew” (1978)

On the Holocaust.

Wiesel, Elie -- Forward to Carol Rittner & Sandra Meyers, Courage To Care — Rescuers of Jews during the Holocaust (1986)

Dave — Thu, 23 Oct 2025 15:26:37 +0000

Why were there so few? Was it that perilous to oppose evil? Was it really impossible to help? Was it really impossible to resist organized, systemitized, legalized cruelty and murder by showing concern for the victims, for one victim? Let us remember: What hurts the victim most is not the cruelty of the oppressor, but the silence of the bystander.

Elie Wiesel (1928-2016) Romanian-American novelist, professor, political activist, Nobel Laureate.
Forward to Carol Rittner & Sandra Meyers, Courage To Care — Rescuers of Jews during the Holocaust (1986)
(Source)

See also King (1963, 1968).

Wiesel, Elie -- Speech (1986-12-10), Accepting the Nobel Peace Prize

Dave — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 12:37:37 +0000

I swore to never be silent whenever and wherever human beings endure suffering and humiliation. We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim; silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.

Elie Wiesel (1928-2016) Romanian-American novelist, professor, political activist, Nobel Laureate.
Speech (1986-12-10), Accepting the Nobel Peace Prize
(Source)