"As a German citizen, as a German professor, and as a political person, I hold it to be not only my right but also my moral duty to take part in the shaping of our German destiny, to expose and oppose obvious wrongs"

Kurt Huber’s words reflect a profound sense of personal responsibility and moral engagement in the face of political injustice. Speaking as a citizen, an intellectual, and a socially conscious individual, Huber underscores the belief that participation in national affairs is not simply a privilege but an ethical imperative. By identifying himself through multiple roles, German citizen, professor, political person, he embraces a multi-layered identity, suggesting that conscientious action arises from the intersection of civic duty, academic responsibility, and political awareness.

Huber’s declaration of both right and duty to influence Germany’s path signifies a rejection of passive compliance. He sees democratic engagement and the courage to confront wrongdoing as inseparable from one’s identity in a society. His choice of words amplifies the necessity of agency; it is not enough to possess rights if one does not exercise them, and moral duty requires confronting “obvious wrongs” even when silence or complicity might appear safer or more convenient.

The phrase “shaping of our German destiny” alludes to the collective nature of national life, where each person’s actions contribute to the larger trajectory of society. Huber’s stance is especially poignant given the context of Nazi Germany, where dissent was dangerous and many intellectuals retreated into silence. He insists that intellectuals and citizens alike must not merely observe or comment but actively participate in forging a just future. This participatory model of citizenship reflects Enlightenment ideals of reason, responsibility, and the pursuit of truth.

Finally, his call to “expose and oppose obvious wrongs” challenges the normalization of injustice. Huber places the burden on individuals to recognize evil and resist it, emphasizing that recognition alone is insufficient without opposition. His moral clarity and willingness to confront the status quo establish a powerful paradigm for civic courage, as well as a legacy of ethical resistance in the darkest times.