--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One day as Father and I were returning…" description: "\"“One day as Father and I were returning from our walk we found the Grote Markt cordoned off by a double ring of police and soldiers. A truck was parked..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c2/corrie-ten-boom-1733_apples_one-day-as-father-and-i-were-returning-f_214188.png" --- # One day as Father and I were returning from our walk we… ![“One day as Father and I were returning from our walk we found the Grote Markt cordoned off by a double ring of police and soldiers. A truck was parked in front of the fish mart; into the back were climbing men, women, and children, all wearing the yellow star. . . . "Father! Those poor people!" I…” quote by Corrie Ten Boom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c2/corrie-ten-boom-1733_apples_one-day-as-father-and-i-were-returning-f_214188.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c2/corrie-ten-boom-1733_apples_one-day-as-father-and-i-were-returning-f_214188.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c2/corrie-ten-boom-1733_apples_one-day-as-father-and-i-were-returning-f_214188.png) > ““One day as Father and I were returning from our walk we found the Grote Markt cordoned off by a double ring of police and soldiers. A truck was parked in front of the fish mart; into the back were climbing men, women, and children, all wearing the yellow star. . . . "Father! Those poor people!" I cried. . . . "Those poor people," Father echoed. But to my surprise I saw that he was looking at the soldiers now forming into ranks to march away. "I pity the poor Germans, Corrie. They have touched the apple of God's eye.”” [Corrie Ten Boom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corrie-ten-boom/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Witnessing the suffering of Jews, the narrator feels compassion while her father shows a detached, almost indifferent view, highlighting moral blindness amidst war. **In simple terms:** Compassion clashes with indifference during wartime. Key Takeaway Recognize empathy even when others ignore suffering. Themes compassion indifference war morality family Mood sorrowful reflective somber Type historical ethical emotional When to use this quote - holocaust remembrance - family discussions - ethical education - historical analysis Key Concepts humanity moral blindness psychological distance Questions to Reflect On - How do we maintain empathy when surrounded by oppression? - What drives people to rationalize suffering? A Different Perspective The father's perspective may stem from self‑preservation, limiting true empathy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Apples](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apples/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Climbing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climbing/) [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [God's Eye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gods-eye/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Men & women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-women-2/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Pity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pity/) [Police](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/police/) [Poor people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poor-people/) [Soldier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soldier/) [Soldiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soldiers/) [Stars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stars/) [Surprise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surprise/) [Yellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/yellow/) ## Related quotes > [Though my father was poor and had nothing, the Torah, the poetry of prophets, was his daily bread.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anzia-yezierska/though-my-father-was-poor-and-had-nothing-the-torah-the-poetry-of/) [Anzia Yezierska](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anzia-yezierska/) > [My father was a poor man, very poor in a British colonial possession where class and race were very important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-poitier/my-father-was-a-poor-man-very-poor-in-a-british-colonial-possession/) [Sidney Poitier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-poitier/) > [I'd seen my father. He was a poor man, and I watched him do astonishing things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-poitier/i-d-seen-my-father-he-was-a-poor-man-and-i-watched-him-do-astonishing/) [Sidney Poitier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-poitier/) > [“We are all special in God's eyes because He has designed us to carry His treasures.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euginia-herlihy/we-are-all-special-in-god-s-eyes-because-he-has-designed-us-to-carry/) [Euginia Herlihy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euginia-herlihy/) > [“The bad psychological material is not a sin but a disease. It does not need to be repented of, but to be cured. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/the-bad-psychological-material-is-not-a-sin-but-a-disease-it-does-not/) [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > [“Nothing that comes to me is void of divine purpose. In seeking to see the whole with God's eyes, we can find the peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-elliott/nothing-that-comes-to-me-is-void-of-divine-purpose-in-seeking-to-see/) Elisabeth Elliott > [It is not good that man should be alone. ... Hitherto all things that have been named, were approved of God to be very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/it-is-not-good-that-man-should-be-alone-hitherto-all-things-that-have/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [“When the subject is sacred, proud and clever men may come to think that the outsiders who don't know it are not merely inferior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/when-the-subject-is-sacred-proud-and-clever-men-may-come-to-think/) [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > [God's eye does not slumber. He knows every sin that is hidden from mortal eye.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-g-white/god-s-eye-does-not-slumber-he-knows-every-sin-that-is-hidden-from/) [Ellen G. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-g-white/) > [The truth, even though I cannot feel it right now, is that I am the chosen child of God, precious in God's eyes, called…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/the-truth-even-though-i-cannot-feel-it-right-now-is-that-i-am-the/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [“You have my baccala?" asked Angelina. "Baccala, that's the salt fish, 'cause God's Word gives a flavor to the world." Each of the fishes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-o-reilly/you-have-my-baccala-asked-angelina-baccala-that-s-the-salt-fish-cause/) [Brian O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-o-reilly/) > [“In God's eyes, we're all the same.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-willis/in-god-s-eyes-we-re-all-the-same/) mark willis > [My friends, let us try to follow the Saviour's steps; let us remember all day long what it is to be men; that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kingsley/my-friends-let-us-try-to-follow-the-saviour-s-steps-let-us-remember/) [Charles Kingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kingsley/) > [When God says YES, nobody can say no. It does not take God 24hrs to change a man's story. Mordecai was a gate man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akaro/when-god-says-yes-nobody-can-say-no-it-does-not-take-god-24hrs-to/) [Akaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akaro/) > [What I get from my study of the Bible is that we're all in Christ, that we're all the same in God's eyes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-hudson/what-i-get-from-my-study-of-the-bible-is-that-we-re-all-in-christ/) [Ernie Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-hudson/) ## More by Corrie Ten Boom > [A man is powerful on his knees.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corrie-ten-boom/a-man-is-powerful-on-his-knees/) [Corrie Ten Boom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corrie-ten-boom/) > [Only Heaven will reveal the top part of God's tapestry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corrie-ten-boom/only-heaven-will-reveal-the-top-part-of-god-s-tapestry/) [Corrie Ten Boom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corrie-ten-boom/) > [For I bring not a religion... but a Person, who loves people, who died for them on the cross. For Jesus died for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corrie-ten-boom/for-i-bring-not-a-religion-but-a-person-who-loves-people-who-died-for/) [Corrie Ten Boom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corrie-ten-boom/) > [To pray only when in peril is to use safety belts only in heavy traffic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corrie-ten-boom/to-pray-only-when-in-peril-is-to-use-safety-belts-only-in-heavy/) [Corrie Ten Boom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corrie-ten-boom/) > [What wings are to a bird, and sails to a ship, so is prayer to the soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corrie-ten-boom/what-wings-are-to-a-bird-and-sails-to-a-ship-so-is-prayer-to-the-soul/) [Corrie Ten Boom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corrie-ten-boom/) > [“And so I learned that love is larger than the walls that shut it in”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corrie-ten-boom/and-so-i-learned-that-love-is-larger-than-the-walls-that-shut-it-in/) [Corrie Ten Boom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corrie-ten-boom/) > [There is an ocean of Gods love available-there is plenty for everyone. May God grant you never to doubt that victorious love-whatever the circumstances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corrie-ten-boom/there-is-an-ocean-of-gods-love-available-there-is-plenty-for-everyone/) [Corrie Ten Boom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corrie-ten-boom/) > [I looked on Jesus and the dove of peace entered my heart. I looked at the dove of peace; and lo...off he went.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corrie-ten-boom/i-looked-on-jesus-and-the-dove-of-peace-entered-my-heart-i-looked-at/) [Corrie Ten Boom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corrie-ten-boom/) > [If God has called you, do not spend time looking over your shoulder to see who is following you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corrie-ten-boom/if-god-has-called-you-do-not-spend-time-looking-over-your-shoulder-to/) [Corrie Ten Boom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corrie-ten-boom/) > [When I try, I fail. When I trust, He succeeds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corrie-ten-boom/when-i-try-i-fail-when-i-trust-he-succeeds/) [Corrie Ten Boom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corrie-ten-boom/) > [Memories are the key not to the past, but to the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corrie-ten-boom/memories-are-the-key-not-to-the-past-but-to-the-future/) [Corrie Ten Boom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corrie-ten-boom/) > [“You say we could lose our lives for this child. I would consider that the greatest honor that could come to my family.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corrie-ten-boom/you-say-we-could-lose-our-lives-for-this-child-i-would-consider-that/) [Corrie Ten Boom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corrie-ten-boom/) > [If all things are possible with God, then all things are possible to him who believes in Him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corrie-ten-boom/if-all-things-are-possible-with-god-then-all-things-are-possible-to/) [Corrie Ten Boom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corrie-ten-boom/) > [... God uses such seemingly insignificant ways to prepare us for the plan He has for our lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corrie-ten-boom/god-uses-such-seemingly-insignificant-ways-to-prepare-us-for-the-plan/) [Corrie Ten Boom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corrie-ten-boom/) > [No matter how deep our darkness, he is deeper still.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corrie-ten-boom/no-matter-how-deep-our-darkness-he-is-deeper-still/) [Corrie Ten Boom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corrie-ten-boom/) [Explore all 210 Corrie Ten Boom quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corrie-ten-boom/) ## More Apples quotes > [The reason that Apple is able to create products like iPad is because we always try to be at the intersection of technology and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/the-reason-that-apple-is-able-to-create-products-like-ipad-is-because/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [I named my son Noah for the same reason Chris Martin named his apple: we're asses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-yorke/i-named-my-son-noah-for-the-same-reason-chris-martin-named-his-apple/) [Thom Yorke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-yorke/) > [I think, however, that Astaire's coordination is better than Kelly's... his sense of rhythm is uncanny. Kelly, on the other hand, is the stronger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyd-charisse/i-think-however-that-astaire-s-coordination-is-better-than-kelly-s/) [Cyd Charisse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyd-charisse/) > [“In the back of the fridge I checked out some stewed apples destined to fester. I examined them closely and reckoned they had only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-brown/in-the-back-of-the-fridge-i-checked-out-some-stewed-apples-destined/) [Helen Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-brown/) > [Fortunately, like most children, I had learned what is most valuable, most indispensable for life before school years began, taught by apple trees, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/fortunately-like-most-children-i-had-learned-what-is-most-valuable/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [I'm not only a fan of Apple products, I have stock in the company. I think Steve Jobs has started one of the greatest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kid-rock/i-m-not-only-a-fan-of-apple-products-i-have-stock-in-the-company-i/) [Kid Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kid-rock/) > [I love to eat an apple after a meal, just to cleanse my teeth - they always look polished afterwards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-zeta-jones/i-love-to-eat-an-apple-after-a-meal-just-to-cleanse-my-teeth-they/) [Catherine Zeta-Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-zeta-jones/) > [I have a friend who is a juggler. If I'm at his house, I don't like to take food from him, if it's in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-have-a-friend-who-is-a-juggler-if-i-m-at-his-house-i-don-t-like-to/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [A comely sight indeed it is to see, a world of blossoms on an apple tree.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/a-comely-sight-indeed-it-is-to-see-a-world-of-blossoms-on-an-apple/) [John Bunyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bunyan/) > [Like a satellite in orbit, Apple is perpetually falling. It just happens to miss Earth every time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-dediu/like-a-satellite-in-orbit-apple-is-perpetually-falling-it-just/) Horace Dediu > [I have always said if there ever came a day when I could no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apple's CEO, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/i-have-always-said-if-there-ever-came-a-day-when-i-could-no-longer/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [Positive thinking is so firmly enshrined in our culture that knocking it is a little like attacking motherhood or apple pie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/srikumar-rao/positive-thinking-is-so-firmly-enshrined-in-our-culture-that-knocking/) [Srikumar Rao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/srikumar-rao/) > [Therein lies the rub of a place like Berkeley Bowl. 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