Meaning of the quote

The quote means that some stories, even though they did not actually happen, can still be true in the way they describe real feelings, experiences, or ideas. Writers can use made-up stories to teach important lessons or share important truths about the world. Even if the specific events never occurred, the story can still feel true and meaningful to the reader.

About Elie Wiesel

Elie Wiesel was a renowned Romanian-American writer, professor, and Holocaust survivor who authored 57 books, including the powerful memoir “Night.” He was a vocal advocate for human rights, speaking out against various atrocities and oppression worldwide. Wiesel was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1986 for his tireless efforts to promote peace and understanding.

More about the author

More quotes from Elie Wiesel

I do not recall a Jewish home without a book on the table.

Elie Wiesel

Romanian-born American writer, professor, political activist, Nobel laureate, and Holocaust survivor (1928-2016)

Friendship marks a life even more deeply than love. Love risks degenerating into obsession, friendship is never anything but sharing.

Elie Wiesel

Romanian-born American writer, professor, political activist, Nobel laureate, and Holocaust survivor (1928-2016)

What does mysticism really mean? It means the way to attain knowledge. It’s close to philosophy, except in philosophy you go horizontally while in mysticism you go vertically.

Elie Wiesel

Romanian-born American writer, professor, political activist, Nobel laureate, and Holocaust survivor (1928-2016)

Most people think that shadows follow, precede or surround beings or objects. The truth is that they also surround words, ideas, desires, deeds, impulses and memories.

Elie Wiesel

Romanian-born American writer, professor, political activist, Nobel laureate, and Holocaust survivor (1928-2016)

Mankind must remember that peace is not God’s gift to his creatures; peace is our gift to each other.

Elie Wiesel

Romanian-born American writer, professor, political activist, Nobel laureate, and Holocaust survivor (1928-2016)

I decided to devote my life to telling the story because I felt that having survived I owe something to the dead. and anyone who does not remember betrays them again.

Elie Wiesel

Romanian-born American writer, professor, political activist, Nobel laureate, and Holocaust survivor (1928-2016)

There is a difference between a book of two hundred pages from the very beginning, and a book of two hundred pages which is the result of an original eight hundred pages. The six hundred are there. Only you don’t see them.

Elie Wiesel

Romanian-born American writer, professor, political activist, Nobel laureate, and Holocaust survivor (1928-2016)

I marvel at the resilience of the Jewish people. Their best characteristic is their desire to remember. No other people has such an obsession with memory.

Elie Wiesel

Romanian-born American writer, professor, political activist, Nobel laureate, and Holocaust survivor (1928-2016)

Indifference, to me, is the epitome of evil.

Elie Wiesel

Romanian-born American writer, professor, political activist, Nobel laureate, and Holocaust survivor (1928-2016)

Our obligation is to give meaning to life and in doing so to overcome the passive, indifferent life.

Elie Wiesel

Romanian-born American writer, professor, political activist, Nobel laureate, and Holocaust survivor (1928-2016)

No human race is superior; no religious faith is inferior. All collective judgments are wrong. Only racists make them.

Elie Wiesel

Romanian-born American writer, professor, political activist, Nobel laureate, and Holocaust survivor (1928-2016)

In Jewish history there are no coincidences.

Elie Wiesel

Romanian-born American writer, professor, political activist, Nobel laureate, and Holocaust survivor (1928-2016)

I have not lost faith in God. I have moments of anger and protest. Sometimes I’ve been closer to him for that reason.

Elie Wiesel

Romanian-born American writer, professor, political activist, Nobel laureate, and Holocaust survivor (1928-2016)

Because I remember, I despair. Because I remember, I have the duty to reject despair.

Elie Wiesel

Romanian-born American writer, professor, political activist, Nobel laureate, and Holocaust survivor (1928-2016)

There are victories of the soul and spirit. Sometimes, even if you lose, you win.

Elie Wiesel

Romanian-born American writer, professor, political activist, Nobel laureate, and Holocaust survivor (1928-2016)

Just as despair can come to one only from other human beings, hope, too, can be given to one only by other human beings.

Elie Wiesel

Romanian-born American writer, professor, political activist, Nobel laureate, and Holocaust survivor (1928-2016)

Some stories are true that never happened.

Elie Wiesel

Romanian-born American writer, professor, political activist, Nobel laureate, and Holocaust survivor (1928-2016)

The opposite of love is not hate, it’s indifference.

Elie Wiesel

Romanian-born American writer, professor, political activist, Nobel laureate, and Holocaust survivor (1928-2016)

Not to transmit an experience is to betray it.

Elie Wiesel

Romanian-born American writer, professor, political activist, Nobel laureate, and Holocaust survivor (1928-2016)

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

Romanian-born American writer, professor, political activist, Nobel laureate, and Holocaust survivor (1928-2016)

I swore never to be silent whenever and wherever human beings endure suffering and humiliation. We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.

Elie Wiesel

Romanian-born American writer, professor, political activist, Nobel laureate, and Holocaust survivor (1928-2016)

We have to go into the despair and go beyond it, by working and doing for somebody else, by using it for something else.

Elie Wiesel

Romanian-born American writer, professor, political activist, Nobel laureate, and Holocaust survivor (1928-2016)

Words can sometimes, in moments of grace, attain the quality of deeds.

Elie Wiesel

Romanian-born American writer, professor, political activist, Nobel laureate, and Holocaust survivor (1928-2016)

Man, as long as he lives, is immortal. One minute before his death he shall be immortal. But one minute later, God wins.

Elie Wiesel

Romanian-born American writer, professor, political activist, Nobel laureate, and Holocaust survivor (1928-2016)

Peace is our gift to each other.

Elie Wiesel

Romanian-born American writer, professor, political activist, Nobel laureate, and Holocaust survivor (1928-2016)

A destruction, an annihilation that only man can provoke, only man can prevent.

Elie Wiesel

Romanian-born American writer, professor, political activist, Nobel laureate, and Holocaust survivor (1928-2016)

Because of indifference, one dies before one actually dies.

Elie Wiesel

Romanian-born American writer, professor, political activist, Nobel laureate, and Holocaust survivor (1928-2016)

Hope is like peace. It is not a gift from God. It is a gift only we can give one another.

Elie Wiesel

Romanian-born American writer, professor, political activist, Nobel laureate, and Holocaust survivor (1928-2016)

I write to understand as much as to be understood.

Elie Wiesel

Romanian-born American writer, professor, political activist, Nobel laureate, and Holocaust survivor (1928-2016)

That is my major preoccupation, memory, the kingdom of memory. I want to protect and enrich that kingdom, glorify that kingdom and serve it.

Elie Wiesel

Romanian-born American writer, professor, political activist, Nobel laureate, and Holocaust survivor (1928-2016)

Once you bring life into the world, you must protect it. We must protect it by changing the world.

Elie Wiesel

Romanian-born American writer, professor, political activist, Nobel laureate, and Holocaust survivor (1928-2016)