How we cite our quotes: (Sentence)
Quote #4
Has the human being become less indifferent and more human? Have we really learned from our experiences? Are we less insensitive to the plight of victims of ethnic cleansing and other forms of injustices in places near and far? (109-111)
Elie Wiesel is a big fan of rhetorical questions, but they always serve a purpose. In this case, with an audience on the verge of a new century, he wants them to seriously think about their answers, and part of that means thinking about humanity and the responsibilities of being human. Have we really learned from what we've seen and done, and do we have the knowledge necessary to make better choices in the future?
Quote #5
And so, once again, I think of the young Jewish boy from the Carpathian Mountains. He has accompanied the old man I have become throughout these years of quest and struggle. And together we walk towards the new millennium, carried by a profound fear and extraordinary hope. (123-125)
You might notice that the end of "The Perils of Indifference" looks pretty similar to the beginning, and Elie Wiesel does that on purpose. At the start, he sets the scene to reminds his listeners of the very worst humanity had to offer—the Holocaust, Buchenwald, millions of people dead simply because of their race or religion.
But when he finishes, Wiesel returns to the same scene to remind his audience that despite everything, part of being human means being innately hopeful. So, if the young Jewish boy from the Carpathian Mountains could still believe in the very best, anything is possible.