WIST Quotations

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)

See also King (1963, 1968).

Roosevelt, Eleanor -- Column (1943-08-13), “My Day”

Dave — Wed, 14 Jan 2015 16:27:02 +0000

I know that we will be the sufferers if we let great wrongs occur without exerting ourselves to correct them.

Eleanor Roosevelt (1884–1962) American politician, diplomat, activist; First Lady of the US (1933–45)
Column (1943-08-13), “My Day”

On the persecution of Jews in Europe.

Seneca the Younger -- Troades, l. 290 [tr. Miller (1917)]

Dave — Fri, 20 Jun 2014 14:16:02 +0000

Who, when he may, forbids not sin, commands it.

Seneca the Younger (c. 4 BC-AD 65) Roman statesman, philosopher, playwright [Lucius Annaeus Seneca]
Troades, l. 290 [tr. Miller (1917)]