"We know that we are not collectively guilty, so how can we accuse any other nation, no matter what some of its people have done, of being collectively guilty?"
- Simon Wiesenthal
About this Quote
This quote by Simon Wiesenthal talks to the concept of collective guilt. He is suggesting that we, as a cumulative, must not accuse other countries of being jointly guilty for the actions of a few of its people. He is stressing the significance of acknowledging that we are not collectively guilty for the actions of some of our own individuals, and for that reason, we should not implicate other nations of being collectively guilty for the actions of some of their individuals. This quote speaks to the idea of personal obligation and the importance of holding individuals responsible for their actions, rather than holding a whole nation responsible for the actions of a few. It is a suggestion that we ought to not judge an entire nation based on the actions of a couple of, which we need to aim to be more understanding and thoughtful when it pertains to the actions of others.