--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Elie Wiesel is right: the road to…" description: "\"“Elie Wiesel is right: the road to Auschwitz was being paved in the earliest days of Christendom. But another conclusion now is equally evident: on the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92c/david-e-stannard-28592_auschwitz_elie-wiesel-is-right-the-road-to-auschwi_287442.jpg" --- # Elie Wiesel is right: the road to Auschwitz was being… ![“Elie Wiesel is right: the road to Auschwitz was being paved in the earliest days of Christendom. But another conclusion now is equally evident: on the way to Auschwitz the road’s pathway led straight through the heart of the Indies and of North and South America.” quote by David E. Stannard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92c/david-e-stannard-28592_auschwitz_elie-wiesel-is-right-the-road-to-auschwi_287442.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92c/david-e-stannard-28592_auschwitz_elie-wiesel-is-right-the-road-to-auschwi_287442.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92c/david-e-stannard-28592_auschwitz_elie-wiesel-is-right-the-road-to-auschwi_287442.jpg) > ““Elie Wiesel is right: the road to Auschwitz was being paved in the earliest days of Christendom. But another conclusion now is equally evident: on the way to Auschwitz the road’s pathway led straight through the heart of the Indies and of North and South America.”” [David E. Stannard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-e-stannard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Draws a line from early Christian colonization to later European atrocities, highlighting continuity of oppression. **In simple terms:** Shows historical links between colonization and genocide. Key Takeaway Recognize patterns of oppression across history. Themes history colonialism genocide Mood reflective serious Type academic historical When to use this quote - education - human rights advocacy - policy analysis Key Concepts critical theory historical continuity Questions to Reflect On - How do we responsibly compare different atrocities? - What lessons can be learned from historical patterns? A Different Perspective Complex causality may oversimplify distinct events. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Auschwitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/auschwitz/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Journey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journey/) [South america](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/south-america/) ## Related quotes > [The road to Auschwitz was built by hate, but paved with indifference.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-kershaw/the-road-to-auschwitz-was-built-by-hate-but-paved-with-indifference/) [Ian Kershaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-kershaw/) > [“Robert Frost didn’t like to explain his poems—and for good reason: to explain a poem is to suck the air from its lungs. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-leuzzi/robert-frost-didn-t-like-to-explain-his-poems-and-for-good-reason-to/) [Tony Leuzzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-leuzzi/) > [“Often we feel the need to say that a book isn’t just about a particular time or place but is about the human spirit.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-schwalbe/often-we-feel-the-need-to-say-that-a-book-isn-t-just-about-a/) [Will Schwalbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-schwalbe/) > [“When a person doesn’t have gratitude, something is missing in his or her humanity. A person can almost be defined by his or her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/when-a-person-doesn-t-have-gratitude-something-is-missing-in-his-or-2/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [“We know every moment is a moment of grace, every hour an offering… - Elie Wiesel, Nobel Peace Prize Acceptance Speech, 1986”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-iwata/we-know-every-moment-is-a-moment-of-grace-every-hour-an-offering-elie/) Edward Iwata > [“Whoever survives a test, whatever it may be, must tell the story. That is his duty. —ELIE WIESEL”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-w-hickman/whoever-survives-a-test-whatever-it-may-be-must-tell-the-story-that/) Martha W. Hickman > [“We must not see any person as an abstraction. Instead, we must see in every person a universe with its own secrets, with its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-skloot/we-must-not-see-any-person-as-an-abstraction-instead-we-must-see-in/) [Rebecca Skloot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-skloot/) > [“As Elie Wiesel noted, “Although we today are not responsible for the injustices of the past, we are responsible for the way we remember…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-goldstein/as-elie-wiesel-noted-although-we-today-are-not-responsible-for-the/) [Phyllis Goldstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-goldstein/) > [“Bearing witness takes the courage to realize the potential of the human spirit. Witnessing requires us to call forth the highest qualities of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-joy/bearing-witness-takes-the-courage-to-realize-the-potential-of-the/) [Melanie Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melanie-joy/) > [“Luz Castro "And then i explain that the world did know and remained silent. and that is why I swore never to be silent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/luz-castro-and-then-i-explain-that-the-world-did-know-and-remained/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1986, Elie Wiesel is also the author of more than 40 books. As relevant as anything to today's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hershel-shanks/awarded-the-nobel-peace-prize-in-1986-elie-wiesel-is-also-the-author/) [Hershel Shanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hershel-shanks/) > [ If I do an interview with \[Holocaust survivor\] Elie Wiesel, am I required as a journalist to find a Holocaust denier? ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-pelley/if-i-do-an-interview-with-holocaust-survivor-elie-wiesel-am-i/) [Scott Pelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-pelley/) > [ I know that the Bible has been a central influence in \[Elie Wiesel and Frank Moore Cross\] lives - but in a very different… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hershel-shanks/i-know-that-the-bible-has-been-a-central-influence-in-elie-wiesel-and/) [Hershel Shanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hershel-shanks/) > [When somebody says that six million people died in the Holocaust, there is nobody in the world who can understand that. It's only through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uzodinma-iweala/when-somebody-says-that-six-million-people-died-in-the-holocaust/) [Uzodinma Iweala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uzodinma-iweala/) > [ We're both \[with Elie Wiesel\] a long way from the position of the so-called Biblical minimalists. Some of them see no history in the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/we-re-both-with-elie-wiesel-a-long-way-from-the-position-of-the-so/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) ## More by David E. Stannard > [“As with Hispaniola, Tenochtitlán, Cuzco, and elsewhere, the Spaniards’ mammoth destruction of whole societies generally was a by-product of conquest and native enslavement, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-e-stannard/as-with-hispaniola-tenochtitl-n-cuzco-and-elsewhere-the-spaniards/) [David E. Stannard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-e-stannard/) > [“Should Indian adults attempt to use the California courts to bring such killers to justice, they invariably were frustrated because the law of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-e-stannard/should-indian-adults-attempt-to-use-the-california-courts-to-bring/) [David E. Stannard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-e-stannard/) > [“I certify to you that, with the help of God, we shall powerfully enter into your country and shall make war against you in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-e-stannard/i-certify-to-you-that-with-the-help-of-god-we-shall-powerfully-enter/) [David E. Stannard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-e-stannard/) > [“Given the shortage of women in California during these early years of white settlement, “a likely young girl” might cost almost double that of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-e-stannard/given-the-shortage-of-women-in-california-during-these-early-years-of/) [David E. Stannard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-e-stannard/) > [“And on April 30th, one month later, a royal decree was issued suspending all judicial proceedings against any criminals who would agree to ship…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-e-stannard/and-on-april-30th-one-month-later-a-royal-decree-was-issued/) [David E. Stannard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-e-stannard/) > [“No sooner were the ships unloaded, however, than sickness broke out among the crews. It quickly spread among the natives, who had come to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-e-stannard/no-sooner-were-the-ships-unloaded-however-than-sickness-broke-out/) [David E. Stannard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-e-stannard/) > [“For while those like Señor Coma of Aragon were drawing a parallel between darkness of flesh and commitment to cannibalism—while Columbus and others were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-e-stannard/for-while-those-like-se-or-coma-of-aragon-were-drawing-a-parallel/) [David E. Stannard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-e-stannard/) > [“On the very day that Columbus finally set forth on his journey that would shake the world, the port of the city he sailed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-e-stannard/on-the-very-day-that-columbus-finally-set-forth-on-his-journey-that/) [David E. Stannard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-e-stannard/) > [“For among the many things that warfare does is temporarily define the entire enemy population as superfluous, as expendable—a redefinition that must take place…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-e-stannard/for-among-the-many-things-that-warfare-does-is-temporarily-define-the/) [David E. Stannard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-e-stannard/) > [“The destruction of the Indians of the Americas was, far and away, the most massive act of genocide in the history of the world.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-e-stannard/the-destruction-of-the-indians-of-the-americas-was-far-and-away-the/) [David E. Stannard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-e-stannard/) > [“Such brutishness was beyond the English capacity for tolerance. Especially when the vulgarians in question occupied such lovely lands. So, as they had for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-e-stannard/such-brutishness-was-beyond-the-english-capacity-for-tolerance/) [David E. Stannard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-e-stannard/) > [“The people of this island and of all the other islands which I have found and seen, or have not seen, all go naked,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-e-stannard/the-people-of-this-island-and-of-all-the-other-islands-which-i-have/) [David E. Stannard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-e-stannard/) > [“In the symbolic, economic, and familial spheres the Iroquois were matriarchal, that is, female dominated. Iroquoian women headed the family long-house, and much of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-e-stannard/in-the-symbolic-economic-and-familial-spheres-the-iroquois-were/) [David E. Stannard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-e-stannard/) > [“There was one little child, probably three years old, just big enough to walk through the sand. The Indians had gone ahead, and this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-e-stannard/there-was-one-little-child-probably-three-years-old-just-big-enough/) [David E. Stannard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-e-stannard/) > [“This, then, was the Old World on the eve of Columbus’s departure in 1492. For almost half a millennium Christians had been launching hideously…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-e-stannard/this-then-was-the-old-world-on-the-eve-of-columbus-s-departure-in/) [David E. Stannard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-e-stannard/) [Explore all 19 David E. Stannard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-e-stannard/) ## More Auschwitz quotes > [I stated that Hiroshima and Nagasaki are 'among the most unspeakable crimes in history.' I took no position on just where they stand on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/i-stated-that-hiroshima-and-nagasaki-are-among-the-most-unspeakable/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [We need creativity. We need more poetry after Auschwitz.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rithy-panh/we-need-creativity-we-need-more-poetry-after-auschwitz/) [Rithy Panh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rithy-panh/) > [“I remember that one Holy Week, the magazine I got every Thursday, Anteojito , came with a free poster depicting the Stations of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcelo-figueras/i-remember-that-one-holy-week-the-magazine-i-got-every-thursday/) [Marcelo Figueras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcelo-figueras/) > [No sane person wants hell to exist. No sane person wants evil to exist. But hell is just evil eternalized. If there is evil…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-kreeft/no-sane-person-wants-hell-to-exist-no-sane-person-wants-evil-to-exist/) [Peter Kreeft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-kreeft/) > [My own interest in Kafka's letter came about when I was writing an article on Peter Ginz, the boy novelist held in Terezin, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-cartwright/my-own-interest-in-kafka-s-letter-came-about-when-i-was-writing-an/) [Justin Cartwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-cartwright/) > [Eighteen months before I was born, my mother was in Auschwitz. She weighed 49 pounds. She always told me that God saved her so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-von-furstenberg/eighteen-months-before-i-was-born-my-mother-was-in-auschwitz-she/) [Diane von Furstenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-von-furstenberg/) > [“I am keenly aware that the security we enjoy is frail, and could easily be disrupted. Secretly, a nagging fear gnaws at me: what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-waterman/i-am-keenly-aware-that-the-security-we-enjoy-is-frail-and-could/) [Daniel Waterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-waterman/) > [There is more to Jewish history than Auschwitz.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romain-gary/there-is-more-to-jewish-history-than-auschwitz/) [Romain Gary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romain-gary/) > [“I once conjured up this image of Hitler. I imagined that he didn’t kill himself and that he was kept in a kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-haybittle/i-once-conjured-up-this-image-of-hitler-i-imagined-that-he-didn-t/) [Glenn Haybittle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-haybittle/) > [“In February, 1943, eight months before she was murdered in Auschwitz, the German painter Charlotte Salomon killed her grandfather. Salomon’s grandparents, like many Jews,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-bentley/in-february-1943-eight-months-before-she-was-murdered-in-auschwitz/) [Toni Bentley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-bentley/) > [There is no question in my mind that we live in one of the truly bestial centuries in human history. There are plenty of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-chargaff/there-is-no-question-in-my-mind-that-we-live-in-one-of-the-truly/) [Erwin Chargaff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-chargaff/) > [I know that elections must be limited only to those who understand that the Arabs are the deadly enemy of the Jewish state, who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meir-kahane/i-know-that-elections-must-be-limited-only-to-those-who-understand/) [Meir Kahane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meir-kahane/) > [“It was, unbelievably, not the most depressing thing we had ever seen: a bride, ripped from her own wedding, separated from her groom, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/it-was-unbelievably-not-the-most-depressing-thing-we-had-ever-seen-a/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [“He sounded chilly. “I’m sure she is.” Allegra was trying to back off, but she was annoyed that he had taken her father’s part,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-steel/he-sounded-chilly-i-m-sure-she-is-allegra-was-trying-to-back-off-but/) [Danielle Steel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-steel/) > [Auschwitz was one of the wealthiest places in the world. Everyone who was deported there had been in such a hurry that they were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-lasker-wallfisch/auschwitz-was-one-of-the-wealthiest-places-in-the-world-everyone-who/) [Anita Lasker-Wallfisch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-lasker-wallfisch/) [Browse all 168 Auschwitz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/auschwitz/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Elie Wiesel is right: the road to Auschwitz was being paved in the earliest days of Christendom. But another conclusion now is equally evident: on the way to Auschwitz the road’s pathway led straight through the heart of the Indies and of North and South America.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "David E. 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