--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But witnesses incur responsibilities, as…" description: "\"“But witnesses incur responsibilities, as anyone who has ever seen a traffic accident and had to go to court to testify, knows. In the new world of glo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a0/erna-paris-64575_collective-looking-a_but-witnesses-incur-responsibilities-as_1167605.jpg" --- # But witnesses incur responsibilities, as anyone who has… ![“But witnesses incur responsibilities, as anyone who has ever seen a traffic accident and had to go to court to testify, knows. In the new world of globally televised war crimes, the defence of 'not knowing,' or neutrality, will dissolve for everyone. To be a witness or bystander is not a…” quote by Erna Paris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a0/erna-paris-64575_collective-looking-a_but-witnesses-incur-responsibilities-as_1167605.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a0/erna-paris-64575_collective-looking-a_but-witnesses-incur-responsibilities-as_1167605.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a0/erna-paris-64575_collective-looking-a_but-witnesses-incur-responsibilities-as_1167605.jpg) > ““But witnesses incur responsibilities, as anyone who has ever seen a traffic accident and had to go to court to testify, knows. In the new world of globally televised war crimes, the defence of 'not knowing,' or neutrality, will dissolve for everyone. To be a witness or bystander is not a value-free choice but, inadvertently, a moral position; and in this sense the 'guilt' of people who live with the memory of crimes committed by members of their families, or communities, has been unwittingly extended to everyone who watches appalling pictures on the news.”” [Erna Paris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erna-paris/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Witnessing atrocities creates an unavoidable moral stance; seeing suffering implicates us, making neutrality impossible and extending collective responsibility. **In simple terms:** Seeing suffering makes us morally involved. Key Takeaway Recognize and act on the responsibility of witnessing. Themes ethics responsibility memory war Mood thoughtful serious Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - legal testimony - journalism - human rights advocacy - public discourse - education Key Concepts moral philosophy collective guilt media influence Questions to Reflect On - How does media exposure shape our moral duties? - Can we remain neutral in the face of atrocity? A Different Perspective Moral responsibility can be overwhelming and may lead to paralysis. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Testify](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/testify/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [War crimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war-crimes/) [Witness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/witness/) [Witness Bystander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/witness-bystander-3370233/) [Witnesses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/witnesses/) ## Related quotes > [It is as if Clinton had called one of the most respected character witnesses in all of U.S. history to testify that the primal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-j-ellis/it-is-as-if-clinton-had-called-one-of-the-most-respected-character/) [Joseph J. Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-j-ellis/) > [“At the end of this journey, it seems to me that reconciling the long shadows cast by the uneasy past may ultimately depend on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erna-paris/at-the-end-of-this-journey-it-seems-to-me-that-reconciling-the-long/) [Erna Paris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erna-paris/) > [It is through an unbroken chain of witnesses that we come to see the face of Jesus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/it-is-through-an-unbroken-chain-of-witnesses-that-we-come-to-see-the/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [I learned that if you're going to be a troublemaker, you don't want a ton of witnesses, because there's inevitable fallout from living like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-lyonne/i-learned-that-if-you-re-going-to-be-a-troublemaker-you-don-t-want-a/) [Natasha Lyonne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-lyonne/) > [ATHENA: There are two sides to this dispute. I've heard only one half the argument. (...) So you two parties, summon your witnesses, set…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/athena-there-are-two-sides-to-this-dispute-i-ve-heard-only-one-half/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [Why couldn't we put on a defense? I had seventeen witnesses standing outside the door. They just dropped the defense and went on to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-manson/why-couldn-t-we-put-on-a-defense-i-had-seventeen-witnesses-standing/) [Charles Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-manson/) > [marriages do not take root in the presence of witnesses but only in the consciousness of the persons involved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libbie-block/marriages-do-not-take-root-in-the-presence-of-witnesses-but-only-in/) [Libbie Block](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libbie-block/) > [Soon we shall be up there with Christ. God did not mean us to be happy without Him; but God would first have us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-wigram/soon-we-shall-be-up-there-with-christ-god-did-not-mean-us-to-be-happy/) [George Wigram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-wigram/) > [But there is one whom you do not deceive, and that is Christ, our Lord. He knows all. Personally, I have felt that nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-reuben-clark/but-there-is-one-whom-you-do-not-deceive-and-that-is-christ-our-lord/) [J. Reuben Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-reuben-clark/) > [We are stronger than we've credited ourselves to be. We have been the victims and the witnesses. We have said a lifetime of good-byes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-destefano/we-are-stronger-than-we-ve-credited-ourselves-to-be-we-have-been-the/) [Lauren DeStefano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-destefano/) > [The conclusion I have reached is that, above all, dogs are witnesses. They are allowed access to our most private moments. They are there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-parkhurst/the-conclusion-i-have-reached-is-that-above-all-dogs-are-witnesses/) [Carolyn Parkhurst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-parkhurst/) > [The great number of the Jews furnishes us with a sufficient cloud of witnesses that attest the truth of the Bible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/the-great-number-of-the-jews-furnishes-us-with-a-sufficient-cloud-of/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [I cannot but be astonished that Sarsi should persist in trying to prove by means of witnesses something that I may see for myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/galileo-galilei/i-cannot-but-be-astonished-that-sarsi-should-persist-in-trying-to/) [Galileo Galilei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/galileo-galilei/) > [The New Testament witnesses were fully aware of the background against which the resurrection took place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-mcdowell/the-new-testament-witnesses-were-fully-aware-of-the-background/) [Josh McDowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-mcdowell/) > [“We therefore need to be patient with ourselves, and look upon our sense of guilt as Witnesses!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-m-wanderer/we-therefore-need-to-be-patient-with-ourselves-and-look-upon-our/) [Frank M. Wanderer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-m-wanderer/) ## More by Erna Paris > [“In our tribunal, we look only at personal criminal responsibility in a very tightly defined, narrow way and we demand proof beyond a resonable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erna-paris/in-our-tribunal-we-look-only-at-personal-criminal-responsibility-in-a/) [Erna Paris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erna-paris/) > [“But seen through a long lens, peacemaking founded on 'forgetting' appears to have a limited lifespan.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erna-paris/but-seen-through-a-long-lens-peacemaking-founded-on-forgetting/) [Erna Paris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erna-paris/) > [“At the end of this journey, it seems to me that reconciling the long shadows cast by the uneasy past may ultimately depend on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erna-paris/at-the-end-of-this-journey-it-seems-to-me-that-reconciling-the-long/) [Erna Paris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erna-paris/) > [“Finally, I had held up examples of Goldhagen's inflammatory language and suggested that he had missed the essence of what Primo Levi once called…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erna-paris/finally-i-had-held-up-examples-of-goldhagen-s-inflammatory-language/) [Erna Paris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erna-paris/) [Explore all 5 Erna Paris quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erna-paris/) ## More Justice quotes > [Never fight on the wrong side; you might win but the burden of guilt is more than a loss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lilian-salan/never-fight-on-the-wrong-side-you-might-win-but-the-burden-of-guilt/) [Lilian Salan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lilian-salan/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [“Crime and punishment can be summed up in two classifications: there are bad people and there are people who get into bad situations. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnnie-dent-jr/crime-and-punishment-can-be-summed-up-in-two-classifications-there/) [Johnnie Dent Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnnie-dent-jr/) > [In the battle for police reform, accountability and justice, Americans don't have to re-invent the wheel. We just have to revoke the thing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-johnson/in-the-battle-for-police-reform-accountability-and-justice-americans/) [Jason Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-johnson/) > [“Why do so many people do nothing? I think it’s because most of us look at the evils and injustice around us, and we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/why-do-so-many-people-do-nothing-i-think-it-s-because-most-of-us-look/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [“The jailers, the Court, everyone in that building – it wasn’t about justice; it was about obedience and intimidation…about maintaining order. Fear accomplished that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-allan/the-jailers-the-court-everyone-in-that-building-it-wasn-t-about/) [Jay Allan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-allan/) > [Civilized nations are ones that simply can't endure wrongs or injustice except at home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-anderson/civilized-nations-are-ones-that-simply-can-t-endure-wrongs-or/) [Joseph Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-anderson/) > [Time often serves to justify a deed which seems at first unjustifiable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-p-ryan/time-often-serves-to-justify-a-deed-which-seems-at-first-unjustifiable/) [Donald P. Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-p-ryan/) > [This cold weather has set all the young Folks to providing Bedfellows. I have signed two or three Licences every Day \[as a Fairfax…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mason/this-cold-weather-has-set-all-the-young-folks-to-providing-bedfellows/) [George Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mason/) > [May God bless each of us in our calls to serve. May our faith strengthen as we serve in righteousness, faithfully keeping the commandments.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-tom-perry/may-god-bless-each-of-us-in-our-calls-to-serve-may-our-faith/) [L. Tom Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-tom-perry/) > [At minimum, we must recognize that there are legitimate, unanswered questions about whether the Obama Justice Department involved themselves in a political project targeting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-meadows/at-minimum-we-must-recognize-that-there-are-legitimate-unanswered/) [Mark Meadows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-meadows/) > [We need to incorporate that age-old concept of redemption into the work that we do in the criminal justice system in California.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamala-harris/we-need-to-incorporate-that-age-old-concept-of-redemption-into-the/) [Kamala Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamala-harris/) > [There is no freedom without justice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-wiesenthal/there-is-no-freedom-without-justice/) [Simon Wiesenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-wiesenthal/) > [“The absence of judgment becomes a catalyst and an enabler for greater injustice. Contrary to popular thought, judgment is a GOOD thing when it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-chace-gordon/the-absence-of-judgment-becomes-a-catalyst-and-an-enabler-for-greater/) [J. Chace Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-chace-gordon/) > [The function of the law is not to provide justice or to preserve freedom. The function of the law is to keep those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-spence/the-function-of-the-law-is-not-to-provide-justice-or-to-preserve/) [Gerry Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-spence/) [Browse all 13,527 Justice quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“But witnesses incur responsibilities, as anyone who has ever seen a traffic accident and had to go to court to testify, knows. In the new world of globally televised war crimes, the defence of 'not knowing,' or neutrality, will dissolve for everyone. To be a witness or bystander is not a value-free choice but, inadvertently, a moral position; and in this sense the 'guilt' of people who live with the memory of crimes committed by members of their families, or communities, has been unwittingly extended to everyone who watches appalling pictures on the news.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Erna Paris" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erna-paris/but-witnesses-incur-responsibilities-as-anyone-who-has-ever-seen-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Justice" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erna-paris/but-witnesses-incur-responsibilities-as-anyone-who-has-ever-seen-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a0/erna-paris-64575_collective-looking-a_but-witnesses-incur-responsibilities-as_1167605.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a0/erna-paris-64575_collective-looking-a_but-witnesses-incur-responsibilities-as_1167605.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a0/erna-paris-64575_collective-looking-a_but-witnesses-incur-responsibilities-as_1167605.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“But witnesses incur responsibilities, as anyone who has ever seen a traffic accident and had to go to court…” — Erna Paris", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Erna Paris", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erna-paris/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“But witnesses incur responsibilities, as anyone...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erna-paris/but-witnesses-incur-responsibilities-as-anyone-who-has-ever-seen-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erna-paris/but-witnesses-incur-responsibilities-as-anyone-who-has-ever-seen-a/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```