Martin Niemöller > Quotes

“First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out,
Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out,
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out,
Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me,
and there was no one left to speak for me.”
― Martin Niemöller

“In Germany they came first for the Communists,
and I didn't speak up
because I wasn't a Communist.

Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn't speak up
because I wasn't a Jew.

Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I didn't speak up
because I wasn't a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Catholics,
and I didn't speak up
because I was a Protestant.

Then they came for me,
and by that time no one was left
to speak up for me.”
― Martin Niemöller

“Als die Nazis die Kommunisten holten,
habe ich geschwiegen;
ich war ja kein Kommunist.

Als sie die Sozialdemokraten einsperrten,
habe ich geschwiegen;
ich war ja kein Sozialdemokrat.

Als sie die Gewerkschafter holten,
habe ich nicht protestiert;
ich war ja kein Gewerkschafter.

Als sie die Juden holten,
habe ich geschwiegen;
ich war ja kein Jude.

Als sie mich holten,
gab es keinen mehr, der protestierte.”
― Martin Niemöller

“Tell me how much you have entered into the suffering of those around you, and I will tell you how much you love them.”
― Martin Niemöller

“First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out-because I was not a socialist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out-because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out- because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me-and there was no one left to speak for me.”
― Martin Niemöller

“First, they came for the Communists
And I did not speak out because I was not a Communist

Then they came for the Socialists
And I did not speak out because I was not a Socialist

Then they came for the trade unionists
And I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist

Then they came for the Jews
And I did not speak out because I was not a Jew

Then they came for me
And by then there was no one left to speak out for me”
― Martin Niemöller

“What does it matter how we look in Germany compared to how we look in heaven?”
― Martin Niemöller

“Először elvitték a kommunistákat, de én hallgattam,
hiszen nem voltam kommunista.
Aztán elvitték a szociáldemokratákat, de én hallgattam,
hiszen nem voltam szociáldemokrata.
Aztán elvitték a szakszervezetiseket, de én hallgattam,
hiszen nem voltam szakszervezetis.
Aztán elvitték a zsidókat, de én hallgattam,
hiszen nem voltam zsidó.
És amikor eljöttek, hogy elvigyenek, már senki sem maradt,
aki szót emelhetett volna értem.”
― Martin Niemöller

“A man doesn't realize how much he can stand until he is put to the test. You can stand far more than you think you can. You are much stronger than you think you are.

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

“Quand les nazis sont venus chercher les communistes, je n'ai rien dit, je n'étais pas communiste.
Quand ils ont enfermé les sociaux-démocrates, je n'ai rien dit, je n'étais pas social-démocrate.
Quand ils sont venus chercher les syndicalistes, je n'ai rien dit, je n'étais pas syndicaliste.
Quand ils sont venus me chercher, il ne restait plus personne pour protester.”
― Martin Niemöller

“First they came for the communists, and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a communist. Then they came for the socialists, and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a socialist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn’t speak out because I was not a Jew. Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn’t speak out because I was not a Catholic. Then they came for me, and there was no one left to speak for me.”
― Martin Niemöller