The opposite of love is not hate, it's indifference.
Elie WieselRead
But the forces of evil have not abdicated. The malevolent ghosts of hatred are resurgent with a fury and a boldness that are as astounding as they are nauseating: ethnic conflicts, religious riots, anti-Semitic incidents here, there, and everywhere. What is wrong with these morally degenerate people that they abuse their freedom, so recently won?
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects on the persistence of hatred and evil in society, questioning the moral decay that allows such forces to thrive.
Elie Wiesel's quote emphasizes the ongoing presence of malevolence and hatred in the world, particularly in the context of ethnic and religious conflicts. He expresses disbelief at how some individuals, despite having recently acquired their freedom, choose to misuse it by perpetuating violence and intolerance instead of fostering peace and understanding. This reflection serves as a sobering reminder of the moral responsibilities that come with freedom and the need for continuous vigilance against the resurgence of hatred.
Themes
HatredFreedomEvilMoralityConflict
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a discussion about social justice movements.
More from Elie Wiesel
All quotes →With every cell of my being and with every fiber of my memory I oppose the death penalty in all forms. I do not believe any civilized society should be at the service of death. I don't think it's human to become an agent of the angel of death.
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Certain things, certain events, seem inexplicable only for a time: up to the moment when the veil is torn aside.
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We're alone, but we are capable of communicating to one another both our loneliness and our desire to break through it. You say, 'I'm alone.' Someone answers, 'I'm alone too.' There's a shift in the scale of power. A bridge is thrown between the two abysses.
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No one is as capable of gratitude as one who has escaped the kingdom of night.
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My loyalty to my people, to our people, and to Israel comes first and prevents me from saying anything critical of Israel outside Israel… As a Jew I see my role as a melitz yosher, a defender of Israel: I defend even her mistakes… I must identify with whatever Israel does – even with her errors.
Elie WieselRead
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