Top 27 Quotes & Sayings by Martin Niemoller

Explore popular quotes and sayings by a German priest Martin Niemoller.

Last updated on December 21, 2024.

Friedrich Gustav Emil Martin Niemöller was a German theologian and Lutheran pastor. He is best known for his opposition to the Nazi regime during the late 1930s and for his widely quoted 1946 poem "First they came ...". The poem exists in many versions; the one featured on the United States Holocaust Memorial reads: "First they came for the Communists, and I did not speak out—Because I was not a communist. 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."

German - Priest | January 14, 1892 - March 6, 1984

Source: Wikipedia

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

Martin Niemoller

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

Martin Niemoller

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

Martin Niemoller

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

Martin Niemoller

If it hurts, DON'T DO IT AGAIN.

Martin Niemoller

There was no one left to speak for me.

Martin Niemoller

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

Martin Niemoller

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.

Martin Niemoller

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.

Martin Niemoller

When they locked up the social democrats, I remained silent; I was not a social democrat.

Martin Niemoller

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.

Martin Niemoller

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

Martin Niemoller

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.

Martin Niemoller

Don't let your life wait for other people.

Martin Niemoller

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

Martin Niemoller

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 Niemoller

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.

Martin Niemoller

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.

Martin Niemoller

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.

Martin Niemoller

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.

Martin Niemoller

First they went after the Communists, and I did not stand up, because I was not a Communist. Then they went after the homosexuals and infirm, and I did not stand up, because I was neither. Then they went after the Jews, and I did not stand up, because I was not a Jew. Then they went after the Catholics, and I did not stand up, because I was Protestant. Finally, they went after me, and there was no one left to stand up for me.

Martin Niemoller

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.

Martin Niemoller

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.

Martin Niemoller

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.

Martin Niemoller

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

Martin Niemoller

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."

Martin Niemoller

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.

Martin Niemoller

Top 27 Quotes & Sayings by Martin Niemoller

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