--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In 1938, after Austria, our universe had…" description: "\"In 1938, after Austria, our universe had become accustomed to inhumanity, to lawlessness, and brutality as never in centuries before. In a former day t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ea/stefan-zweig-811_austria_in-1938-after-austria-our-universe-had-b_1463115.jpg" --- # In 1938, after Austria, our universe had become accustomed… ![“In 1938, after Austria, our universe had become accustomed to inhumanity, to lawlessness, and brutality as never in centuries before. In a former day the occurrences in unhappy Vienna alone would have been sufficient to cause international proscription, but in 1938 the world conscience was silent…” quote by Stefan Zweig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ea/stefan-zweig-811_austria_in-1938-after-austria-our-universe-had-b_1463115.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ea/stefan-zweig-811_austria_in-1938-after-austria-our-universe-had-b_1463115.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ea/stefan-zweig-811_austria_in-1938-after-austria-our-universe-had-b_1463115.jpg) > “In 1938, after Austria, our universe had become accustomed to inhumanity, to lawlessness, and brutality as never in centuries before. In a former day the occurrences in unhappy Vienna alone would have been sufficient to cause international proscription, but in 1938 the world conscience was silent or merely muttered surlily before it forgot and forgave.” [Stefan Zweig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-zweig/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The 1938 silence on Austrian atrocities showed a moral failure of the international community. **In simple terms:** World ignored Austria’s cruelty. Key Takeaway Stay vigilant and speak out against injustice. Themes history morality politics silence Mood somber urgent Type historical political When to use this quote - journalism - activism - policy making - education programs Key Concepts collective responsibility human rights ethical duty Questions to Reflect On - Why do societies ignore early warnings? - How can individuals break collective apathy? A Different Perspective Silence can be driven by fear or self‑interest. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Austria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/austria/) [Brutality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brutality/) [Conscience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscience/) [Inhumanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inhumanity/) [Lawlessness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lawlessness/) [Unhappy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unhappy/) [Universe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universe/) [Vienna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vienna/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [Today in May 1938, the world around us suffers from the anxiety which the unemployment of millions brings with it. In Germany we begin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/today-in-may-1938-the-world-around-us-suffers-from-the-anxiety-which/) [Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/) > ['The Sound of Music' is set in 1938 in Austria at the time of the Anschluss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hanson/the-sound-of-music-is-set-in-1938-in-austria-at-the-time-of-the/) [Alexander Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hanson/) > [Let us not sneer at the values of the World's conscience, whose indignation has already forced Hitler's fascism to retrreat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-blum/let-us-not-sneer-at-the-values-of-the-world-s-conscience-whose/) [Leon Blum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-blum/) > [The U.N. acts as the world's conscience, and over eighty-five percent of the work that is done by the United Nations is in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-temple/the-u-n-acts-as-the-world-s-conscience-and-over-eighty-five-percent/) [Shirley Temple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-temple/) > [“In today's world one's conscience needs to be affordable.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-abraham/in-today-s-world-one-s-conscience-needs-to-be-affordable/) [Amit Abraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-abraham/) > [“They rob the poor under the over of law, while we plunder the rich under the protection of our courage. We are free princes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rima-jean/they-rob-the-poor-under-the-over-of-law-while-we-plunder-the-rich/) Rima Jean > [A human being can fool the entire world but his own Conscience under any circumstances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/a-human-being-can-fool-the-entire-world-but-his-own-conscience-under/) [Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/) > [We cannot appeal to the conscience of the world when our own conscience is asleep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-ossietzky/we-cannot-appeal-to-the-conscience-of-the-world-when-our-own/) Carl Von Ossietzky > [Remember, as long as you live, that nothing but strict truth can carry you through the world, with either your conscience or your honor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/remember-as-long-as-you-live-that-nothing-but-strict-truth-can-carry/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We cannot look to the conscience of the world when our own conscience is asleep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-ossietzky/we-cannot-look-to-the-conscience-of-the-world-when-our-own-conscience/) Carl von Ossietzky > [I think the other side of this is in this balance between the social state and the punishing state, remember, the social state has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/i-think-the-other-side-of-this-is-in-this-balance-between-the-social/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [With the tools of democracy, democracy was murdered and lawlessness made "legal." Raw power ruled, and its only real goal was to destroy all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/with-the-tools-of-democracy-democracy-was-murdered-and-lawlessness/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [The end of an age is always a time of turmoil, war, economic catastrophe, cynicism, lawlessness and distress. But it is also an era…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-j-rushdoony/the-end-of-an-age-is-always-a-time-of-turmoil-war-economic/) [R.J. Rushdoony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-j-rushdoony/) > [The primary cause of disorder and lawlessness today, as throughout history, is the poverty of the many in contrast to the affluence of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-o-kelso/the-primary-cause-of-disorder-and-lawlessness-today-as-throughout/) [Louis O. Kelso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-o-kelso/) > [“Oh where is the noble face of modesty, or the strength of virtue, now that blasphemy is in power and men have put justice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/oh-where-is-the-noble-face-of-modesty-or-the-strength-of-virtue-now/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) ## More by Stefan Zweig > [“Madness,” he exclaimed to himself, in astonishment, faltering. “Madness! What do they want? Once again, once again!” War once again, war that had so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-zweig/madness-he-exclaimed-to-himself-in-astonishment-faltering-madness/) [Stefan Zweig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-zweig/) > [It is never until one realizes that one means something to others that one feels there is any point or purpose in one's own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-zweig/it-is-never-until-one-realizes-that-one-means-something-to-others/) [Stefan Zweig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-zweig/) > [“And if I am asked today to advise a young writer who has not yet made up his mind what way to go, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-zweig/and-if-i-am-asked-today-to-advise-a-young-writer-who-has-not-yet-made/) [Stefan Zweig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-zweig/) > [“Live and let live” was the famous Viennese motto, which today still seems to me to be more humane than all the categorical imperatives,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-zweig/live-and-let-live-was-the-famous-viennese-motto-which-today-still/) [Stefan Zweig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-zweig/) > [“Değerli olan her zaman için gerçeğin yarısı değil, tamamıdır.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-zweig/de-erli-olan-her-zaman-i-in-ger-e-in-yar-s-de-il-tamam-d-r/) [Stefan Zweig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-zweig/) > [One never gets to know a person's character better than by watching his behavior during decisive moments… It is always only danger which forces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-zweig/one-never-gets-to-know-a-person-s-character-better-than-by-watching/) [Stefan Zweig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-zweig/) > [Names have a mysterious transforming power. Like a ring on a finger, a name may at first seem merely accidental, committing you to nothing;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-zweig/names-have-a-mysterious-transforming-power-like-a-ring-on-a-finger-a/) [Stefan Zweig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-zweig/) > [There is no sense to a sacrifice after you come to feel that it is a sacrifice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-zweig/there-is-no-sense-to-a-sacrifice-after-you-come-to-feel-that-it-is-a/) [Stefan Zweig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-zweig/) > [No guilt is forgotten so long as the conscience still knows of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-zweig/no-guilt-is-forgotten-so-long-as-the-conscience-still-knows-of-it/) [Stefan Zweig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-zweig/) > [Nothing that has ever been thought and said with a clear mind and pure ethical strength is totally in vain; even if it comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-zweig/nothing-that-has-ever-been-thought-and-said-with-a-clear-mind-and/) [Stefan Zweig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-zweig/) > [It is the way of youth that each fresh piece of knowledge of life should go to its head, and that once uplifted by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-zweig/it-is-the-way-of-youth-that-each-fresh-piece-of-knowledge-of-life/) [Stefan Zweig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-zweig/) > [“The truths that he finds may in the coming months or even the coming years be truths no more. He must be forever searching.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-zweig/the-truths-that-he-finds-may-in-the-coming-months-or-even-the-coming/) [Stefan Zweig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-zweig/) > [The union of opposites, in so far as they are really complementary, always results in the most perfect harmony; and the seemingly incongruous is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-zweig/the-union-of-opposites-in-so-far-as-they-are-really-complementary/) [Stefan Zweig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-zweig/) > [The sight of a wedding always has a disturbing effect on young girls; at such moments a mysterious sense of solidarity with their own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-zweig/the-sight-of-a-wedding-always-has-a-disturbing-effect-on-young-girls/) [Stefan Zweig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-zweig/) > [“Lightly, caressingly, Marie Antoinette picked up the crown as a gift. She was still too young to know that life never gives anything for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-zweig/lightly-caressingly-marie-antoinette-picked-up-the-crown-as-a-gift-2/) [Stefan Zweig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-zweig/) [Explore all 267 Stefan Zweig quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-zweig/) ## More Austria quotes > [I did a ski festival in Austria once. I was struck by how friendly Austrians were, before gradually realising it's more that Glaswegians are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frankie-boyle/i-did-a-ski-festival-in-austria-once-i-was-struck-by-how-friendly/) [Frankie Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frankie-boyle/) > [The north German does not go in for extremes. He has broader horizons than the men from the mountains of Bavaria and Austria.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-donitz/the-north-german-does-not-go-in-for-extremes-he-has-broader-horizons/) [Karl Donitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-donitz/) > [Italy spills over to everything. Italy is a huge banking system. It has been the major banking system in Eastern Europe. It's worked with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-friedman/italy-spills-over-to-everything-italy-is-a-huge-banking-system-it-has/) [George Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-friedman/) > [You know, I'll tell who's really embraced football is Austria. Austria's really embraced football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-leach/you-know-i-ll-tell-who-s-really-embraced-football-is-austria-austria/) [Mike Leach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-leach/) > [I just went off for two months traveling around Europe on a motorcycle and pretty much turned my phone off. I did 5,000 miles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-fassbender/i-just-went-off-for-two-months-traveling-around-europe-on-a/) [Michael Fassbender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-fassbender/) > [Let others wage war. You, lucky Austria, shall marry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/let-others-wage-war-you-lucky-austria-shall-marry/) [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) > [I've done an awful lot of skiing all over Europe: I've done Italy, Austria, France. I skied loads in New Zealand - I did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-armitage/i-ve-done-an-awful-lot-of-skiing-all-over-europe-i-ve-done-italy/) [Richard Armitage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-armitage/) > [So perhaps the most worrying single remark made by a responsible banking official during the current crisis came from Jochen Sanio, the head of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-walker/so-perhaps-the-most-worrying-single-remark-made-by-a-responsible/) [Martin Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-walker/) > [I played No10 for Austria.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-alaba/i-played-no10-for-austria/) [David Alaba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-alaba/) > [Prussia: freedom of movement with a muzzle. Austria: an isolation cell in which screaming is allowed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/prussia-freedom-of-movement-with-a-muzzle-austria-an-isolation-cell/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [I would definitely return to Austria. They were all good experiences for me, but definitely Austria because there were some ancient Celtic, sacred sites…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-cage/i-would-definitely-return-to-austria-they-were-all-good-experiences/) [Nicolas Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-cage/) > [I can assure you that Austria will fight all forms of anti-Semitism in Europe with determination, be it still an existing one or also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-kurz/i-can-assure-you-that-austria-will-fight-all-forms-of-anti-semitism/) [Sebastian Kurz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-kurz/) > [We are fighting Germany, Austria and drink, and as far as I can see, the greatest of these three deadly foes is drink.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lloyd-george/we-are-fighting-germany-austria-and-drink-and-as-far-as-i-can-see-the/) [David Lloyd George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lloyd-george/) > [Austria is a very export-oriented country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-kurz/austria-is-a-very-export-oriented-country/) [Sebastian Kurz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-kurz/) > [I said to the German Ambassador that, as long as there was only a dispute between Austria and Serbia alone, I did not feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-grey/i-said-to-the-german-ambassador-that-as-long-as-there-was-only-a/) [Edward Grey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-grey/) [Browse all 107 Austria quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/austria/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In 1938, after Austria, our universe had become accustomed to inhumanity, to lawlessness, and brutality as never in centuries before. 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