Justice Quote by Elie Wiesel
““There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest. -Elie Wiesel, writer, Nobel laureate (b. 1928) You can't do anything about the length of your life, but you can do something about its width and depth. -H.L. Mencken, writer, editor, and critic (1880-1956)””
About This Quote
Source Speech: Nobel Peace Prize Acceptance, Elie Wiesel, 1986
Even when powerless against injustice, we must always protest; personal agency shapes life's breadth, not its length
In simple terms: Protest always; shape life's depth
Key Takeaway
Never stay silent; expand life's meaning
Themes
justice
activism
personal responsibility
Mood
determined
reflective
Type
ethical
motivational
When to use this quote
- civil rights protests
- community organizing
- personal growth
- confronting oppression
Key Concepts
ethical duty
existential agency
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you protest safely?
- What does “width and depth” mean to you?
A Different Perspective
Protest can be risky and may not change systemic issues
![“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 Bible until Josiah.” quote by Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/9fa/elie-wiesel-341_bible_we-re-both-with-elie-wiesel-a-long-way-f_1724153.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)
![“This cold weather has set all the young Folks to providing Bedfellows. I have signed two or three Licences every Day [as a Fairfax Justice of the Peace] since I have been at Home. I wish I knew where to get a good one myself; for I find cold Sheets extreamly disagreeable.” quote by George Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b92/george-mason-8435_bedfellows_this-cold-weather-has-set-all-the-young_3953.jpg)
