"People's ability to forget what they do not want to know, to overlook what is before their eyes, was seldom put to the test better than in Germany at that time"

This quote by W. G. Sebald is describing the period of time in Germany throughout the Nazi program. It is a commentary on how the German individuals had the ability to neglect the atrocities that were taking place around them. They were able to forget what they did not want to know and neglect what was prior to their eyes. This quote is a tip of how people can be complicit in awful acts by simply disregarding. It is a suggestion of the value of speaking up versus oppression and not allowing ourselves to be complicit in it. It is a reminder of the power of collective action and the significance of standing up for what is right.