Martin Niemoller Quotes

What should we do? We have no wish to interrupt the destroyer's work of saving lives... But war is war and the people being picked up out of the water are soldiers bound for the front; soldiers who are to shoot at our German brothers... The question whether we are to perish in despair or defiance, or survive all trails with a live conscience, depends wholly and solely on whether we believe in the forgiveness of sins. This 25th January was the turning point in my life, because it opened my eyes to the utter impossibility of a moral universe.

That which does not kill you will ultimately make you stronger.

When Hitler came for the Jews... I was not a Jew, therefore, I was not concerned. And when Hitler attacked the Catholics, I was not a Catholic, and therefore, I was not concerned. And when Hitler attacked the unions and the industrialists, I was not a member of the unions and I was not concerned. Then, Hitler attacked me and the Protestant church - and there was nobody left to be concerned.

If you can laugh at yourself, you are going to be fine. If you allow others to laugh with you, you will be great.

First they arrested the Communists - but I was not a Communist, so I did nothing. Then they came for the Social Democrats - but was not a Social Democrat, so I did nothing. Then they arrested the trade unionists - and I did nothing because I was not one. And then they came for the Jews and then the Catholics, but I was neither a Jew nor a Catholic and I did nothing. At last they came and arrested me - and there was no one left to do anything about it.

If you're not living I mean really living, you're dead already.

Ask the first man you meet what he means by defending freedom, and he'll tell you privately he means defending the standard of living.

There was no one left to speak for me.

The heart does heal and you will love like this again- except when you do, you'll deny that you ever loved like this before.

If it hurts, DON'T DO IT AGAIN.

It took me a long time to understand that God is not the enemy of my enemies. God is not even the enemy of God's enemies.

More than fifty-five years ago my father told me, "The Bible does not belong on the shelf but in your hand, under your eye, and in your heart."

First they came for the Jews, but I did nothing because I'm not a Jew. Then they came for the socialists, but I did nothing because I'm not a socialist. Then they came for the Catholics, but I did nothing because I'm not a Catholic. Finally, they came for me, but by then there was no one left to help me.

Don't let your life wait for other people.

If your intuition is telling you not to do something, then don't. Your intuition is not stupid.

Then they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out - because I was not a socialist.

First they went after the Communists, and I did not stand up, because I was not a Communist. Then they went after the homosexuals and infirm, and I did not stand up, because I was neither. Then they went after the Jews, and I did not stand up, because I was not a Jew. Then they went after the Catholics, and I did not stand up, because I was Protestant. Finally, they went after me, and there was no one left to stand up for me.

For it is, and must remain, the case that we must obey God rather than man.