At any moment, man must decide, for better or for worse, what will be the monument of his existence.

No one can become fully aware of the very essence of another human being until he loves him. By his love he is enabled to see the essential traits and features in the beloved person; and even more, he sees that which is potential in him, which is not yet actualized. Furthermore, by his love, the loving person enables the beloved person to actualize these potentialities. By making him aware of what he can be and what he should become, he makes these potentialities come true.

Fear may come true that which one is afraid of.

A life of short duration...could be so rich in joy and love that it could contain more meaning than a life lasting eighty years.

A human being is a deciding being.

Success, like happiness, is the unexpected side effect of one's personal dedication to a cause greater than oneself.

I had wanted simply to convey to the reader by way of concrete example that life holds a potential meaning under any conditions, even the most miserable ones. And I thought that if the point were demonstrated in a situation as extreme as that in a concentration camp, my book might gain a hearing. I therefore felt responsible for writing down what I had gone through, for I thought it might be helpful to people who are prone to despair.