Hope, Despair and Memory: Suffering Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Paragraph, Sentence)

Quote #1

Let us remember Job who, having lost everything - his children, his friends, his possessions, and even his argument with God—still found the strength to begin again, to rebuild his life. (27, 1)

Suffering doesn't need to be the end, and trauma is something that, while stubborn and remarkably long-lived, can be overcome.

Quote #2

And yet real despair only seized us later. Afterwards. As we emerged from the nightmare and began to search for meaning. (8, 1-3)

Sometimes the true depth of trauma is really only understood after the fact, because during the experience so much of your mental resources are dedicated to surviving. Once the crisis blows over, so to speak, you can actually reflect on what happened.

Quote #3

If memory continually brought us back to this, why build a home? Why bring children into a world in which God and man betrayed their trust in one another? (9, 2-3)

Elie Wiesel's talking about how fundamentally trauma can warp someone's perspective of the world. Knowing that there are perfectly fine and friendly people in the world might not nearly be able to comfort you as much.