What's the quote about good people standing by/not speaking out?

[slartibartfastsbeard]

I've heard and read a quote about good people unintentionally becoming part of the evil if they don't speak out against injustice?

Posted too soon. Is there an actual quote or saying?

Is it this?

“ The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” ― Edmund Burke.

“To say nothing is saying something. You must denounce things you are against or one might believe that you support things you really do not.”

Also I like the poem by a priest in Auschwitz- not a saying but still very much along the same lines.

LilacTree1 thank you!

Thanks everyone. I went with the poem. It was very apt for my purpose

I only remember the one Elpheba posted. Powerful stuff. Thanks for posting it.

Are we allowed to know your purpose?

I sound like I’m leading a self help class 😂

LilacTree1 a friend who thinks I'm too vocal in my criticism of the current government

I think she's one who thinks they're doing a great job and Boris outstanding as leader.

Thanks OP.

Dare I ask if this is a pro or anti lockdown thing?

So, if they don't agree with your views then they are getting a copy of that poem and are labelled as sitting by and doing nothing?

There's a new rule.
You can't whinge about the government or anything else without saying what is wrong, how to fix it, and where the money is coming from to do it.

Great rule.

I think it’s good to have these conversations but I wouldn’t want to stick a good or evil label on things.

I mean things like the current situation btw

Not spree killings!

I used good and evil because I thought the quote I was looking for used those words. I wouldn't call my friend evil, it's just she does prefer to let things go over her head rather than spend a minute thinking about it or reading an article instead of the misleading headline. She's been brought up not to question authority and I understand why she's the way she is but she's come out with some corkers the last few weeks.

Probably hasn't helped that I've re-read 1984 for the first time in nearly 30 years and rather than reading it as a good piece of fiction, I've been reading it and seeing the comparisons to the last few years and thinking "bloody hell" every so often 😂

OP it’s difficult

I read 1984 years ago

When I said to mum I felt like I’d woken up in it, she said “really? I can’t see any similarities”. I was 😱😱😱😱 I even asked if she’d remembered the correct book.

Although now she’s maybe changing after the neighbours appear to dislike her going to post letters even!