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But where was I to start? The world is so vast, I shall start with the country I knew best, my own. But my country is so very large. I had better start with my town. But my town, too, is large. I had best start with my street. No, my home. No, my family. Never mind, I shall start with myself.

Elie Wiesel

I swore never to be silent whenever and wherever human beings endure suffering and humiliation.
ELIE WIESEL

Endurance Human Humiliation Myself Silence
This is the role of writers: to turn their tears into a story – and perhaps into a prayer.
ELIE WIESEL

Pain Prayer Role Tears Writing
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

Failure Injustice Power Protest Time
Today, as yesterday, a nation is judged by its attitude towards refugees.
ELIE WIESEL

Attitude Judgement Nation Refugee
What hurts the victim most is not the cruelty of the oppressor, but the silence of the bystander.
ELIE WIESEL

Cruelty Discrimination Hurt Silence Stand Victim
A Jew must be sensitive to the pain of all human beings. A Jew cannot remain indifferent to human suffering… The mission of the Jewish people has never been to make the world more Jewish, but to make it more human.
ELIE WIESEL

Human Mission Pain People Religion Suffering
Ultimately, the only power to which man should aspire is that which he exercises over himself.
ELIE WIESEL

Exercise Himself Man Power Ultimate
What is man? Hope turned to dust. No. What is man? Dust turned to hope.
ELIE WIESEL

Dust Hope Man
Because I remember, I despair. Because I remember, I have the duty to reject despair.
ELIE WIESEL

Despair Myself Rejection Remember Responsibility
Be careful with words, they’re dangerous. Be wary of them. They begat either demons or angels. It’s up to you to give life to one or the other. Be careful, I tell you, nothing is as dangerous as giving free rein to words
ELIE WIESEL

Angel Care Dangerous Demon Myself Word
The most important question a human being has to face. What is it? The question, Why are we here?
ELIE WIESEL

Face Human Important Philosophy Question
I write to understand as much as to be understood.
ELIE WIESEL

Feeling Myself Understand Writing
Once upon a time refugee meant somebody who has a refuge, found a place, a haven where he could find refuge.
ELIE WIESEL

Himself Place Refugee Time
In the beginning there was faith – which is childish; trust – which is vain; and illusion – which is dangerous.
ELIE WIESEL

Beginning Children Dangerous Faith Illusion Trust
I decided to devote my life to telling the story because I felt that having survived I owe something to the dead. and anyone who does not remember betrays them again.
ELIE WIESEL

Betrayal Decision Life Myself Remember Story Survive
You’re shaking … so am I. It’s because of Jerusalem, isn’t it? One doesn’t go to Jerusalem, one returns to it. That’s one of its mysteries.
ELIE WIESEL

God Mystery Oneself Religious Return Shaking

But where was I to start? The world is so vast, I shall start with the country I knew best, my own. But my country is so very large. I had better start with my town. But my town, too, is large. I had best start with my street. No, my home. No, my family. Never mind, I shall start with myself.

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But where was I to start? The world is so vast, I shall start with the country I knew best, my own. But my country is so very large. I had better start with my town. But my town, too, is large. I had best start with my street. No, my home. No, my family. Never mind, I shall start with myself.

Related Topics

Popular Authors

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