Elie Wiesel on hope, compassion, and the power of youth at WE Day

WE Movement

10 Aug 201110:53

EducationalLearning

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TLDRIn this inspiring speech, the speaker, a teacher and writer, emphasizes the importance of learning, freedom, and empathy. He urges students to reject racism and indifference, and to see each other as fellow travelers rather than enemies. He also highlights the sacredness of life and the power of hope, encouraging students to think higher and feel deeper in their endeavors.

Takeaways

📚 The speaker emphasizes their dual roles as a teacher and writer, highlighting their passion for learning and teaching.
⏳ Life is composed of moments, both joyous and challenging, that shape our experiences and growth.
🌍 Discovering literature and great works can transport us through time and space, enriching our lives.
🌟 Beginnings are mysterious and powerful, marking significant changes and new experiences.
🆓 Freedom is essential, but it should never come at the expense of others' freedom, and racism must be rejected.
📖 The speaker references their book 'Night,' reflecting on a past filled with totalitarianism and the importance of survival and faith.
👫 Indifference is the opposite of love, knowledge, beauty, and life. Engaging with others is crucial for growth and understanding.
💡 Every individual has the potential for greatness and to make significant contributions to humanity.
❤️ Human connection and empathy are invaluable; seeing others as fellow travelers rather than enemies fosters compassion.
🔄 Life is irreplaceable, and the belief that everyone is replaceable is a misconception. Value and respect each life.
🌟 Aim to think higher and feel deeper, appreciating the beauty in simple things and the profound emotions in human interactions.
🙌 Hope and peace are gifts we give to one another, and it's essential not to be a source of despair for others.

Q & A

What is the speaker's primary profession?
-The speaker is primarily a teacher and a writer.
How does the speaker describe the relationship between being a writer and a teacher?
-The speaker describes the relationship as intertwined, where the writer in him is a teacher and the teacher in him is a writer.
What is the speaker's passion that has sustained him for many decades?
-The speaker's passion for learning has sustained him for many decades.
What does the speaker emphasize about freedom?
-The speaker emphasizes that freedom should never be at the expense of someone who has no freedom, and specifically condemns racism.
What is the significance of 'Night' in the speaker's work?
-'Night' is the first book the speaker mentions and is significant as it reflects the world when he was the audience's age, marked by totalitarian power and death.
What is the speaker's stance on indifference in the classroom?
-The speaker is against indifference, stating that one cannot enter a classroom with indifference and that truth must be part of a human being.
What is the speaker's view on the potential of the audience?
-The speaker believes that the audience, being young, has the potential to achieve great things, possibly even winning a Nobel Prize, and emphasizes the importance of supporting and helping each other.
What is the speaker's opinion on the opposite of love?
-The speaker states that the opposite of love is not hate, but indifference.
What advice does the speaker give about thinking and feeling?
-The speaker advises to always think higher and feel deeper, appreciating the beauty in simple things and feeling deeply about one another.
What is the speaker's final message about hope?
-The speaker's final message is about the importance of hope, stating that it is a gift one gives to another and that one should never let their hope be at the expense of another person's despair.
What does the speaker consider as a blemish on creation?
-The speaker considers death as a blemish on creation and emphasizes the sacredness of life.

Outlines

00:00

🎓 Важность моментов в жизни

Спикер, учитель и писатель, делится своими мыслями о значимости моментов в жизни. Он подчеркивает, что жизнь состоит не из лет, а из моментов, как светлых, так и темных. Первые встречи, открытия великих авторов, и другие важные события оставляют неизгладимый след. Он также говорит о важности свободы, но предостерегает, что свобода не должна быть за счет других.

05:03

🏆 Возможности и роли людей

Спикер обращает внимание на возможности, которые открываются перед каждым человеком. Он утверждает, что успех зависит не от судьбы, а от наших усилий. Он призывает к взаимопомощи и поддержке, и подчеркивает, что равнодушие недопустимо, как и расизм. Спикер считает, что противоположностью любви, знания и красоты является не ненависть, а равнодушие.

10:07

🌟 Надежда и ответственность

Спикер делится уроками, которые он извлек из своего жизненного опыта. Он говорит о неповторимости человеческой жизни и важности поддержки и надежды. Спикер призывает всегда думать высоко и чувствовать глубже, подчеркивая важность сочувствия и эмпатии. Он считает, что надежда — это не дар бога, а дар, который мы даем друг другу.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Teacher

A teacher is an individual who imparts knowledge, skills, and values to students. In the video, the speaker identifies as a teacher and a writer, emphasizing the interconnectedness of learning and teaching. The theme of education and the role of a teacher in shaping lives is central to the message, as the speaker discusses their passion for learning and the importance of inspiring students.

💡Writer

A writer is someone who creates written content, such as books, articles, or stories. The speaker mentions being a writer and how their writing is a form of teaching. This highlights the idea that writing can be a powerful tool for education and influence, as it can convey ideas and provoke thought, much like teaching.

💡Learning

Learning is the process of acquiring new knowledge, skills, or understanding. The speaker's passion for learning is a recurring theme in the video. They emphasize the lifelong nature of learning and how it has sustained them. The concept of learning is tied to personal growth and the pursuit of knowledge, which is central to the speaker's message.

💡Freedom

Freedom is the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance. The speaker discusses the importance of freedom, particularly in the context of not using one's freedom to harm others. They caution against using freedom as an excuse for racism or other forms of discrimination, highlighting the ethical implications of personal liberty.

💡Racism

Racism is the belief in the inherent superiority of one race over another, often resulting in discrimination and prejudice. The speaker strongly condemns racism, calling it ugly, stupid, and absurd. This term is used to underscore the speaker's belief in equality and the importance of treating all individuals with respect and dignity.

💡Indifference

Indifference is a lack of interest or concern. The speaker argues against indifference, stating that it is the opposite of love, knowledge, beauty, and life. They emphasize the importance of being engaged and caring in education and life, suggesting that indifference can lead to negative consequences and missed opportunities for connection and growth.

💡Culture

Culture refers to the customs, arts, social institutions, and achievements of a particular nation, people, or social group. The speaker mentions culture in the context of racism, suggesting that cultural differences should be celebrated rather than feared or discriminated against. This highlights the value of diversity and the importance of understanding and respecting different cultures.

💡Humanity

Humanity refers to the quality of being human, especially in terms of kindness, consideration, and compassion. The speaker discusses their experiences during times of totalitarian power and how they managed to speak about humanity and faith in civilization. This term is used to convey the speaker's belief in the inherent goodness and potential of people, despite the challenges they face.

💡Hope

Hope is a feeling of expectation and desire for a particular thing to happen. The speaker talks about hope as a gift that one gives to another, emphasizing its importance in overcoming despair. They encourage the audience to maintain hope and not let their own despair affect others, suggesting that hope is a vital force for personal and collective resilience.

💡Despair

Despair is a feeling of utter loss of hope or a belief in the possibility of a better future. The speaker acknowledges that despair can be found in books and life, but encourages the audience to overcome it. They stress the importance of not allowing despair to define one's outlook or affect others, highlighting the need for resilience and optimism.

💡Life

Life refers to the existence of an individual human being or animal. The speaker discusses the sacredness of life and the idea that life cannot be replaced. They argue against the notion of replaceability, emphasizing the unique value of each individual. This term is used to convey the speaker's belief in the importance of valuing and protecting every life.

Highlights

The speaker identifies as a teacher and a writer, emphasizing the interconnectedness of learning and teaching.

Life is made of moments, both great and dark, and these moments shape our experiences.

The importance of small classes and the impact they have on learning and relationships.

The speaker's love for Boston University and the significance of the university in their life.

The transformative power of beginnings, such as reading a novel or meeting a fellow student.

The speaker's belief in the importance of freedom and its limitations.

A critique of racism, describing it as ugly, stupid, and absurd.

The speaker's personal journey and survival in a world of totalitarian power.

The speaker's stance against indifference, emphasizing its destructive nature.

The belief that truth cannot be an abstraction and must be a part of a human being.

The potential of every individual to achieve greatness, as seen in the speaker's eyes.

The speaker's view that the opposite of love is not hate, but indifference.

The importance of not accepting despair and the responsibility each person has towards others' hope.

The speaker's experience during the enemy's invasion and the belief in the irreplaceability of human beings.

The speaker's advice to always think higher and feel deeper, appreciating the beauty in simple things.

The speaker's encouragement to find hope in books and to never let despair control one's life.

The final message of hope and the idea that we are each other's hope.

Transcripts

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Elie Wiesel on hope, compassion, and the power of youth at WE Day

Takeaways

Q & A

What is the speaker's primary profession?

How does the speaker describe the relationship between being a writer and a teacher?

What is the speaker's passion that has sustained him for many decades?

What does the speaker emphasize about freedom?

What is the significance of 'Night' in the speaker's work?

What is the speaker's stance on indifference in the classroom?

What is the speaker's view on the potential of the audience?

What is the speaker's opinion on the opposite of love?

What advice does the speaker give about thinking and feeling?

What is the speaker's final message about hope?

What does the speaker consider as a blemish on creation?