15 Quotes from the Past that are Eerily Relevant Today. Via Crystal Jackson

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“I can not do everything, but I can do something. I must not fail to do the something I can do.” ~ Helen Keller

Here are 15 quotes about the Holocaust that are eerily relevant today. Hopefully, we can learn from them and go forward into a future that looks nothing like this dark past.

1. “I swore never to be silent whenever and wherever human beings endure suffering and humiliation. We must take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.” ~ Elie Wiesel, Holocaust survivor

2. “First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.” ~ Martin Niemoller, German theologian, Lutheran pastor, and concentration camp survivor

3. “Monsters exist, but they are too few in number to be truly dangerous. More dangerous are the common men, the functionaries ready to believe and to act without asking questions.” ~ Primo Levi, Holocaust survivor

4. “The Holocaust illustrates the consequences of prejudice, racism, and stereotyping on a society. It forces us to examine the responsibilities of citizenship and confront the powerful ramifications of indifference and inaction.” ~ Tim Holden

5. “In spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart.” ~ Anne Frank, diarist and Holocaust victim

6. “The Holocaust also shows us how a combination of events and attitudes can erode a society’s democratic values.” ~ Tim Holden

7. “Thou shalt not be a victim, thou shalt not be a perpetrator, but, above all, thou shalt not be a bystander.” ~ Yehuda Bauer, Israeli historian and scholar

8. “The question shouldn’t be, ‘Why are you, a Christian, here in a death camp, condemned for trying to save Jews?’ The real question is ‘Why aren’t all the Christians here?'” ~ Joel C. Rosenberg

9. “All that is necessary for evil to succeed is that good men do nothing.” ~ Edmund Burke (Similarly, “For evil to flourish, it only requires good men to do nothing.” ~ Simon Wiesenthal, Holocaust survivor)

10. “What I want you to take away from my life story is just how important it is to defend your freedom, at all costs. Experience has shown me that if you lose your freedom, you are condemned to fail.” ~ Leon Schgrin

11. “Apartheid was legal. The Holocaust was legal. Slavery was legal. Colonialism was legal. Legality is a matter of power, not justice.” ~ Chris Rock

12. “The duty of the survivor is to bear testimony to what happened. You have to warn people that these things can happen, that evil can be unleashed. Race hatred, violence, idolatries…they still flourish.” ~ Elie Wiesel

13. “Look at how a single candle can both defy and define the darkness.” ~ Anne Frank

14. “The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing.” ~ Albert Einstein

15. “Let us remember: what hurts the victim most is not the cruelty of the oppressor, but the silence of the bystander.” ~ Elie Wiesel

The lessons of the past call us to speak out, to choose our roles now.