Elie Wiesel quote

LilacTree · ‎03-25-2012

Part of a quote by Elie Wiesel, during his speech when he accepted the Nobel Peace Prize in 1986.

" . . . We must always take sides. Neutrality helps only the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented."

This will be my new siggy.

Formerly Ford1224
We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. Elie Wiesel 1986

QVCkitty1 · ‎05-23-2015

That is a great quote, but I would add one from JFK, " Let us never negotiate out of fear, but let us never fear to negotiate "

" You are entitled to your opinion. But you are not entitled to your own facts."
Daniel Patrick Moynihan

suzyQ3 · ‎03-09-2010

Love both quotes, but honestly, without context they can be interpreted in so many different ways.

~Who in the world am I? Ah, that's the great puzzle~ Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland

LilacTree · ‎03-25-2012

@suzyQ3 wrote:
Love both quotes, but honestly, without context they can be interpreted in so many different ways.

@suzyQ3

Yes, it can . . . and it does in my case. It was posted for Lyme Disease, which my daughter has, but that is not the only way it fits many topics and situations in my life . . . as well as in this endangered and troubled world.

Formerly Ford1224
We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. Elie Wiesel 1986

Isobel Archer · ‎04-04-2015

And yet, you can't bring people together if you take sides.

suzyQ3 · ‎03-09-2010

@Isobel Archer wrote:
And yet, you can't bring people together if you take sides.

@Isobel Archer, yes, this is the reason that I mentioned the importance of context. We all surely know that it depends upon the reference. Also, it depends upon timing: How does one finally decide that in a particular case, he or she must take a stand? Or conversely, wait it out in the attempt at some kind of agreement on both sides?

I can certainly think of situations in which one or the other seem the most appropriate.

~Who in the world am I? Ah, that's the great puzzle~ Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland

QVCkitty1 · ‎05-23-2015

@suzyQ3 wrote:
@Isobel Archer wrote:
And yet, you can't bring people together if you take sides.
@Isobel Archer, yes, this is the reason that I mentioned the importance of context. We all surely know that it depends upon the reference. Also, it depends upon timing: How does one finally decide that in a particular case, he or she must take a stand? Or conversely, wait it out in the attempt at some kind of agreement on both sides?

I can certainly think of situations in which one or the other seem the most appropriate.

Of course in some situations there is no middle ground, however, I posted my quote because I think negotiation, compromise, and consensus are lost arts in this society. We see it in government and even on message boards, and I think it is a shame.

" You are entitled to your opinion. But you are not entitled to your own facts."
Daniel Patrick Moynihan

suzyQ3 · ‎03-09-2010

@QVCkitty1 wrote:
@suzyQ3 wrote:
@Isobel Archer wrote:
And yet, you can't bring people together if you take sides.
@Isobel Archer, yes, this is the reason that I mentioned the importance of context. We all surely know that it depends upon the reference. Also, it depends upon timing: How does one finally decide that in a particular case, he or she must take a stand? Or conversely, wait it out in the attempt at some kind of agreement on both sides?

I can certainly think of situations in which one or the other seem the most appropriate.
Of course in some situations there is no middle ground, however, I posted my quote because I think negotiation, compromise, and consensus are lost arts in this society. We see it in government and even on message boards, and I think it is a shame.

@QVCkitty1, even though famous quotes are best in context, I was really referring more to @LilacTree's selection.

Of course, I agree with your sentiment.

~Who in the world am I? Ah, that's the great puzzle~ Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland

stuyvesant · ‎05-15-2010

@suzyQ3 wrote:
Love both quotes, but honestly, without context they can be interpreted in so many different ways.

__________________________

That's how quotes stay current.

skuggles · ‎11-20-2013

@suzyQ3 wrote:
@Isobel Archer wrote:
And yet, you can't bring people together if you take sides.
@Isobel Archer, yes, this is the reason that I mentioned the importance of context. We all surely know that it depends upon the reference. Also, it depends upon timing: How does one finally decide that in a particular case, he or she must take a stand? Or conversely, wait it out in the attempt at some kind of agreement on both sides?

I can certainly think of situations in which one or the other seem the most appropriate.

I agree. Just look at his quote in context and you will understand in what context he meant it.

“We must take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. Sometimes we must interfere. When human lives are endangered, when human dignity is in jeopardy, national borders and sensitivities become irrelevant. Wherever men and women are persecuted because of their race, religion, or political views, that place must - at that moment - become the center of the universe.”

I consider the last remarks a specifier to the first.