Martin Niemoller Quotations

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

Then they came for me - and there was no one left to speak out for me.

Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out - because I was not a trade unionist.

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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 it hurts, DON'T DO IT AGAIN.

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

We have no more thought of using our own powers to escape the arm of authorities than had the Apostles of old. No more are we ready to keep silent at man's behest when God commands us to speak. For it is, and must remain, the case that we must obey God rather than man.

There was no one left to speak for me

We had been frightened of atomic weapons since 1945. In those days I became convinced and remain convinced now that, after Hitler , Truman was the greatest murderer in the world.

For politicians truth and falsehood are unimportant. So I never could become a politician not even a church politician.

One thing is clear, the president of North Vietnam is not a fanatic. He is a very strong and determined man, but capable of listening, something that is very rare in a person of his position.

When the Nazis came for the communists, I remained silent; I was not a communist.

Don't let your life wait for other people.

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."

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.

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

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.

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.