Oskar Schindler Quotes

The persecution of Jews in occupied Poland meant that we could see horror emerging gradually in many ways. In 1939, they were forced to wear Jewish stars, and people were herded and shut up into ghettos. Then, in the years '41 and '42 there was plenty of public evidence of pure sadism. With people behaving like pigs, I felt the Jews were being destroyed. I had to help them. There was no choice.

There was no choice. If you saw a dog going to be crushed under a car, wouldn't you help him?

What is there to say? They are my friends. I would do it again, over and over — for I hate cruelty and intolerance.

Now you are finally with me, you are safe now. Don't be afraid of anything. You don't have to worry anymore.

Beyond this day, no thinking person could fail to see what would happen. I was now resolved to do everything in my power to defeat the system.

I hated the brutality, the sadism, and the insanity of Nazism. I just couldn't stand by and see people destroyed. I did what I could, what I had to do, what my conscience told me I must do. That's all there is to it. Really, nothing more.

I knew the people who worked for me. When you know people, you have to behave towards them like human beings.