Martin Niemoller
Martin Niemoller
Friedrich Gustav Emil Martin Niemöllerwas a German anti-Nazi theologian and Lutheran pastor. He is best known for his statement, "First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out because I was not a Socialist ...... and there was no one left to speak for me."...
NationalityGerman
ProfessionClergyman
Date of Birth14 January 1892
CountryGermany
Martin Niemoller quotes about
brother war believe
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.
christian believe home
I have never concealed the fact and said it before the court in 1938 that I came from an anti-Semitic past and tradition... I ask only that you look at my life historically and take it as history. I believe that from 1933 I truly represented the Lutheran-Christian outlook on the Jewish question as I revealed before the court but that I returned home after eight years' imprisonment as a completely different person.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out - because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for me - and there was no one left to speak out for me.
stronger doe catchy
That which does not kill you will ultimately make you stronger.
heart doe catchy
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.
freedom mean men
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.
laughing catchy laugh-at-yourself
If you can laugh at yourself, you are going to be fine. If you allow others to laugh with you, you will be great.
thought-provoking long enemy
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.
thought-provoking catholic lasts
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.
libertarian-party catholic liberty
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.
catholic church unions
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.
hurt catchy it-hurts
If it hurts, DON'T DO IT AGAIN.
mean catchy really-living
If you're not living I mean really living, you're dead already.