It is the duty of righteous men to make war on all undeserved privilege, but one must not forget that this is a war without end.

A man who would mutilate himself is well damned, isn't he?

Today I think that if for no other reason than that an Auschwitz existed, no one in our age should speak of Providence.

The sea's only gifts are harsh blows and, occasionally, the chance to feel strong.

To give a name to a thing is as gratifying as giving a name to an island, but it is also dangerous: the danger consists in one's becoming convinced that all is taken care of and that once named, the phenomenon has also been explained.

The bond between a man and his profession is similar to that which ties him to his country; it is just as complex, often ambivalent, and in general it is understood completely only when it is broken: by exile or emigration in the case of one's country, by retirement in the case of a trade or profession.

Those who deny Auschwitz would be ready to remake it.