“At the time of the liberation of the camps, I remember, we were convinced that after Auschwitz there would be no more wars, no more racism, no more hatred, no more anti-Semitism. We were wrong. This produced a feeling close to despair. For if Auschwitz could not cure mankind of racism, was there any chance of success ever? The fact is, the world has learned nothing. Otherwise, how is one to comprehend the atrocities committed in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia…”
Elie Wiesel“From Jeff Greenfield: "I once asked Elie Wiesel "Are you an optimist or a pessimist?" "An optimist," he said. "I have to be.”
Elie Wiesel“Man asks and God replies but we don't understand his replies because they dwell in the depths of our souls and remain there until we die.”
Elie Wiesel“We must take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silent encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.”
Elie Wiesel“We were masters of nature, masters of the world. We had forgotten everything--death, fatigue, our natural needs. Stronger than cold or hunger, stronger than the shots and the desire to die, condemned and wandering, mere numbers, we were the only men on earth.”
Elie Wiesel, Night“What does mysticism really mean? It means the way to attain knowledge. It’s close to philosophy, except in philosophy you go horizontally while in mysticism you go vertically.”
Elie Wiesel, Conversations with Elie Wiesel“Our backyard looked like a marketplace. Valuable objects, precious rugs, silver candlesticks, Bibles and other ritual objects were strewn over the dusty grounds- pitiful relics that seemed never to have had a home. All this under a magnificent blue sky.”
Elie Wiesel, Night“The stars were only sparks of the fire which devoured us. Should that fire die out one day, there would be nothing left in the sky but dead stars, dead eyes.”
Elie Wiesel, Night“Elie Wiesel says that neutrality only helps the oppressor, never the victim. And I think you can apply that to journalism.”
Jorge Ramos“This day I ceased to plead. I was no longer capable of lamentation. On the contrary, I felt very strong. I was the accuser, God the accused.”
Elie Wiesel, Night“In any society, fanatics who hate don't hate only me - they hate you, too. They hate everybody.”
Elie Wiesel