--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We must be listened to: above and beyond…" description: "\"We must be listened to: above and beyond our personal experience, we have collectively witnessed a fundamental unexpected event, fundamental precisely ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/71b/primo-levi-2751_above-and-beyond_we-must-be-listened-to-above-and-beyond_2288851.jpg" --- # We must be listened to: above and beyond our personal… ![“We must be listened to: above and beyond our personal experience, we have collectively witnessed a fundamental unexpected event, fundamental precisely because unexpected, not foreseen by anyone. It happened, therefore it can happen again: this is the core of what we have to say. It can happen, and…” quote by Primo Levi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/71b/primo-levi-2751_above-and-beyond_we-must-be-listened-to-above-and-beyond_2288851.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/71b/primo-levi-2751_above-and-beyond_we-must-be-listened-to-above-and-beyond_2288851.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/71b/primo-levi-2751_above-and-beyond_we-must-be-listened-to-above-and-beyond_2288851.jpg) > “We must be listened to: above and beyond our personal experience, we have collectively witnessed a fundamental unexpected event, fundamental precisely because unexpected, not foreseen by anyone. It happened, therefore it can happen again: this is the core of what we have to say. It can happen, and it can happen everywhere.” [Primo Levi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/primo-levi/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Unexpected events can recur, so vigilance is essential to prevent repetition. **In simple terms:** Unexpected events can happen again. Key Takeaway Stay alert and act to prevent repeats. Themes history vigilance humanity Mood somber reflective Type cautionary inspirational When to use this quote - public policy - education - community vigilance Key Concepts recurrence collective memory preventive action Questions to Reflect On - How can societies institutionalize memory of past crises? - What mechanisms keep vigilance alive? A Different Perspective It may be hard to maintain awareness amid daily life. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Above and beyond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/above-and-beyond/) [Auschwitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/auschwitz/) [Collectively Witnessed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/collectively-witnessed-5369975/) [Events](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/events/) [Fundamental Unexpected](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fundamental-unexpected-5369973/) [Fundamentals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fundamentals/) [Happened Happen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happened-happen-267925/) [Personal experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/personal-experience/) [Unexpected](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unexpected/) [Unexpected Event](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unexpected-event-3052094/) [Unexpected events](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unexpected-events/) [Witnessed Fundamental](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/witnessed-fundamental-5369974/) ## Related quotes > [“The archival document is a tear in the fabric of time, an unplanned glimpse offered into an unexpected event.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlette-farge/the-archival-document-is-a-tear-in-the-fabric-of-time-an-unplanned/) [Arlette Farge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlette-farge/) > [“It’s a phrase, black swan,” she said. “Means a totally unexpected event with a big impact. But one that seems predictable afterwards, with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mick-herron/it-s-a-phrase-black-swan-she-said-means-a-totally-unexpected-event/) [Mick Herron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mick-herron/) > [“She is reminded that you never know when one unexpected event will transform you into “the person on the other side.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-goldstein/she-is-reminded-that-you-never-know-when-one-unexpected-event-will/) [Amy Goldstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-goldstein/) > [Whatever happened to anyone else could happen to you and to me - And the end of my youth was the possible truth that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indigo-girls/whatever-happened-to-anyone-else-could-happen-to-you-and-to-me-and/) [Indigo Girls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indigo-girls/) > [Everything that has happened had to happen. Everything that must happen cannot be stopped.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/everything-that-has-happened-had-to-happen-everything-that-must/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [All of this has happened before, and it will all happen again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/all-of-this-has-happened-before-and-it-will-all-happen-again/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“They never stop to think: I’m here. I am the result of everything that happened and will happen, but I’m here.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/they-never-stop-to-think-i-m-here-i-am-the-result-of-everything-that/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“Deal with it,” Reacher said. “It happened. It can’t un-happen. Most folks aren’t going to like it. Deep down humans haven’t been modern very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-child/deal-with-it-reacher-said-it-happened-it-can-t-un-happen-most-folks/) [Lee Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-child/) > [“All has happened to her that will happen to her. She has felt everything, borne everything, experienced everything, suffered everything, lost everything, mourned everything.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/all-has-happened-to-her-that-will-happen-to-her-she-has-felt/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [“Everything that has happened to others will happen to him, too. No one gets away.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/everything-that-has-happened-to-others-will-happen-to-him-too-no-one/) [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) > [I've seen people around me write books, and somehow they're always in the center of everything that happened; they were the one who made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-stanley/i-ve-seen-people-around-me-write-books-and-somehow-they-re-always-in/) [Paul Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-stanley/) > [Everything's happened to me. Nothing can happen to me now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tig-notaro/everything-s-happened-to-me-nothing-can-happen-to-me-now/) [Tig Notaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tig-notaro/) > [“History is a repeatable process. if it has happened before, it will happen again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-a-niles/history-is-a-repeatable-process-if-it-has-happened-before-it-will/) [R.A. niles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-a-niles/) > [If it happened to me, it can happen to anyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-schwartz/if-it-happened-to-me-it-can-happen-to-anyone/) [Josh Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-schwartz/) > [One point has already been proven. Everything that happened once can happen again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacobo-timerman/one-point-has-already-been-proven-everything-that-happened-once-can/) [Jacobo Timerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacobo-timerman/) ## More by Primo Levi > [I too entered the Lager as a nonbeliever, and as a nonbeliever I was liberated and have lived to this day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/primo-levi/i-too-entered-the-lager-as-a-nonbeliever-and-as-a-nonbeliever-i-was/) [Primo Levi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/primo-levi/) > [Man is a centaur, a tangle of flesh and mind, divine inspiration and dust.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/primo-levi/man-is-a-centaur-a-tangle-of-flesh-and-mind-divine-inspiration-and/) [Primo Levi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/primo-levi/) > [Our ignorance allowed us to live, as you are in the mountains, and your rope is frayed and about to break, but you don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/primo-levi/our-ignorance-allowed-us-to-live-as-you-are-in-the-mountains-and-your/) [Primo Levi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/primo-levi/) > [“Válka, to je hlavně velký zmatek, na poli i v lidských hlavách: často člověk ani nechápe, kdo vlastně vítězí a kdo prohrává, o tom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/primo-levi/v-lka-to-je-hlavn-velk-zmatek-na-poli-i-v-lidsk-ch-hlav-ch-asto-lov-k/) [Primo Levi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/primo-levi/) > [“An extreme case of the distortion of the memory of a committed guilty act is found in its suppression. Here, too, the borderline between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/primo-levi/an-extreme-case-of-the-distortion-of-the-memory-of-a-committed-guilty/) [Primo Levi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/primo-levi/) > [“It was the shame we knew so well, the shame that drowned us after the selections, and every time we had to watch, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/primo-levi/it-was-the-shame-we-knew-so-well-the-shame-that-drowned-us-after-the/) [Primo Levi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/primo-levi/) > [An enemy who sees the error of his ways ceases to be an enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/primo-levi/an-enemy-who-sees-the-error-of-his-ways-ceases-to-be-an-enemy/) [Primo Levi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/primo-levi/) > [“Willingly or not we come to terms with power, forgetting that we are all in the ghetto, that the ghetto is walled in, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/primo-levi/willingly-or-not-we-come-to-terms-with-power-forgetting-that-we-are/) [Primo Levi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/primo-levi/) > [Nothing can be said: nothing sure, nothing probable, nothing honest. Better to err through omission than through commission: better to refrain from steering the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/primo-levi/nothing-can-be-said-nothing-sure-nothing-probable-nothing-honest/) [Primo Levi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/primo-levi/) > [“We were also born," Line said abruptly. Mendel questioned her with a look, and Line tried to clarify her thought: "Born, expelled. Russia conceived…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/primo-levi/we-were-also-born-line-said-abruptly-mendel-questioned-her-with-a/) [Primo Levi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/primo-levi/) > [“They are the typical product of the structure of the German Lager: if one offers a position of privilege to a few individuals in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/primo-levi/they-are-the-typical-product-of-the-structure-of-the-german-lager-if/) [Primo Levi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/primo-levi/) > [Anyone who has obeyed nature by transmitting a piece of gossip experiences the explosive relief that accompanies the satisfying of a primary need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/primo-levi/anyone-who-has-obeyed-nature-by-transmitting-a-piece-of-gossip/) [Primo Levi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/primo-levi/) > [I beg the reader not to go in search of messages. It is a term that I detest because it distresses me greatly, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/primo-levi/i-beg-the-reader-not-to-go-in-search-of-messages-it-is-a-term-that-i/) [Primo Levi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/primo-levi/) > [“One of them declared: 'Doing this work, one either goes crazy the first day or gets accustomed to it.' Another, though: 'Certainly I could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/primo-levi/one-of-them-declared-doing-this-work-one-either-goes-crazy-the-first/) [Primo Levi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/primo-levi/) > [For me chemistry represented an indefinite cloud of future potentialities which enveloped my life to come in black volutes torn by fiery flashes, like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/primo-levi/for-me-chemistry-represented-an-indefinite-cloud-of-future/) [Primo Levi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/primo-levi/) [Explore all 130 Primo Levi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/primo-levi/) ## More Above and beyond quotes > [Paul Revere earned his living as a silversmith. But what do we remember him for? His volunteer work. All activism is volunteering in that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-j-ellis/paul-revere-earned-his-living-as-a-silversmith-but-what-do-we/) [Susan J. Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-j-ellis/) > [I want to remind priests that the confessional must not be a torture chamber but rather an encounter with the Lord’s mercy which spurs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/i-want-to-remind-priests-that-the-confessional-must-not-be-a-torture/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Every customer interaction is a marketing opportunity. If you go above and beyond on the customer service side, people are much more likely to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stewart-butterfield/every-customer-interaction-is-a-marketing-opportunity-if-you-go-above/) [Stewart Butterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stewart-butterfield/) > [I don't call my people fans, I call them believers, because they go above and beyond.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/i-don-t-call-my-people-fans-i-call-them-believers-because-they-go/) [Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/) > [While it is tempting to believe that you are the victim of certain people or forces beyond your control, A Course in Miracles teaches…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/while-it-is-tempting-to-believe-that-you-are-the-victim-of-certain/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [The accouterments of life were so rich and varied, so elaborated, that almost no place at all was left for life itself. Each and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-mann/the-accouterments-of-life-were-so-rich-and-varied-so-elaborated-that/) [Thomas Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-mann/) > [If there is a central theme to what I called "a peaceful warrior's approach to living," and to The Four Purposes of Life, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-millman/if-there-is-a-central-theme-to-what-i-called-a-peaceful-warrior-s/) [Dan Millman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-millman/) > [Freedom comes with self-knowledge, when the mind goes above and beyond the hindrances it has created for itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/freedom-comes-with-self-knowledge-when-the-mind-goes-above-and-beyond/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [To WOW, you must differentiate yourself, which means do something a little unconventional and innovative. You must do something that’s above and beyond what’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-hsieh/to-wow-you-must-differentiate-yourself-which-means-do-something-a/) [Tony Hsieh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-hsieh/) > [Healing is a process afforded you by your Creator and is above and beyond the control of man. Your Chiropractor does everything possible to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-j-palmer/healing-is-a-process-afforded-you-by-your-creator-and-is-above-and/) [B. J. Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-j-palmer/) > [Do they believe their cause so just that they are above and beyond the truth?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wally-hickel/do-they-believe-their-cause-so-just-that-they-are-above-and-beyond/) [Wally Hickel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wally-hickel/) > [Remember, I come from such an excessively overdone, red-carpet place called Hollywood. So I'm used to people blowing up their success in ways that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-maclaine/remember-i-come-from-such-an-excessively-overdone-red-carpet-place/) [Shirley MacLaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-maclaine/) > [Freedom requires responsibility to choose who we are above and beyond our immediate impulses, needs, and social pressures, so that we can genuinely express…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendon-burchard/freedom-requires-responsibility-to-choose-who-we-are-above-and-beyond/) [Brendon Burchard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendon-burchard/) > [The family believes that my grandfather, Mark Felt Sr., is a great American hero who went well above and beyond the call of duty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-felt/the-family-believes-that-my-grandfather-mark-felt-sr-is-a-great/) [Mark Felt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-felt/) > [Its so hard to talk when you want to kill yourself. That's above and beyond everything else, and it's not a mental complaint-it's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ned-vizzini/its-so-hard-to-talk-when-you-want-to-kill-yourself-that-s-above-and/) [Ned Vizzini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ned-vizzini/) [Browse all 55 Above and beyond quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/above-and-beyond/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We must be listened to: above and beyond our personal experience, we have collectively witnessed a fundamental unexpected event, fundamental precisely because unexpected, not foreseen by anyone. It happened, therefore it can happen again: this is the core of what we have to say. 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