Auschwitz Quote by Elie Wiesel
“Perhaps some day someone will explain how, on the level of man, Auschwitz was possible; but on the level of God, it will forever remain the most disturbing of mysteries.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Holocaust Remembrance, Elie Wiesel, 1979
The quote highlights the incomprehensible evil of Auschwitz for humans, while suggesting that divine perspective renders it an eternal mystery.
In simple terms: Auschwitz is a human horror that seems impossible to understand, and even God cannot explain it.
Key Takeaway
Accept the limits of understanding and remember the victims.
Themes
memory
evil
theology
Mood
somber
reflective
Type
historical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- educational curricula
- memorial visits
- interfaith dialogues
- ethical debates
Key Concepts
moral philosophy
theodicy
historical trauma
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we reconcile faith with such atrocities?
- What responsibilities arise from acknowledging mystery?
A Different Perspective
The quote may be seen as attributing mystery to God, which some argue undermines accountability.
![“I remember those faces of people who were good I saw that. I saw a father who gave his bread to his son and his son gave back the bread to his father. That, to me, was such a defeat of the enemies, will of the enemies, theories of the enemies, aspirations, here [in Auschwitz].” quote by Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/508/elie-wiesel-341_aspiration_i-remember-those-faces-of-people-who-wer_3133919.jpg)
![“I was 15, not 14, when I was inside there [Auschwitz], 15, and for me both were actually a surprise.” quote by Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/647/elie-wiesel-341_auschwitz_i-was-15-not-14-when-i-was-inside-there_876240.jpg)
![“[Chinese] are a huge empire now, you'll soon be - in a few years two billion people in the world. So, you should be more compassionate, more understanding. And above all, you don't need all their trouble.” quote by Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/751/elie-wiesel-341_billions_chinese-are-a-huge-empire-now-you-ll-soo_28398.jpg)
