In the beginning there was faith - which is childish; trust - which is vain; and illusion - which is dangerous.

I needed to know that there was such a thing as love and that it brought smiles and joy in its wake.

I remember those faces of people who were good I saw that. I saw a father who gave his bread to his son and his son gave back the bread to his father. That, to me, was such a defeat of the enemies, will of the enemies, theories of the enemies, aspirations, here [in Auschwitz].

It's not a weapon, [governments] don't kill, they don't conduct massacres, although massacres have been committed and many people were killed, but they stifle religion, they're afraid probably.

When adults wage war, children perish.

I am not so naïve as to believe that this slim volume will change the course of history or shake the conscience of the world. Books no longer have the power they once did. Those who kept silent yesterday will remain silent tomorrow.

When has religion ever been unifying? Religion has introduced many wars in this world, enough bloodshed and violence.