Throughout history, it has been the inaction of those who could

“Throughout history, it has been the inaction of those who could have acted; the indifference of those who should have known better; the silence of the voice of justice when it mattered most; that has made it possible for evil to triumph.” Thus spoke Haile Selassie, Emperor of Ethiopia, a man who stood before the world when darkness was rising, and the nations turned their faces away. His words echo through the ages like the toll of a great bronze bell, warning the living and awakening the sleeping conscience of humankind. In them is both lament and command—a cry born of sorrow and a call to courage.

In his time, Haile Selassie stood alone before the League of Nations in 1936, as his country was invaded by the forces of tyranny and ambition. He appealed to the conscience of the world, to the hearts of those who claimed to uphold peace and civilization. Yet his cries fell upon deaf ears. The mighty did not act. The wise did not speak. The just remained silent. And so the innocent burned, and the world slid closer to war. His warning was not for Ethiopia alone—it was for all ages, for every generation that stands at the crossroads of action and apathy, of justice and indifference.

This quote, then, is not merely a reflection on the past but a mirror held up to every soul. For in every era, evil does not triumph because it is strong, but because good men and women fail to rise. Tyranny grows not from the will of one man, but from the weakness of thousands who look away. The rivers of history are filled not only with the deeds of the wicked but with the silence of the righteous. Every unspoken word of truth, every act withheld out of fear or convenience, becomes a stone laid upon the road that evil travels.

Consider the story of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the German pastor who dared to defy the darkness of the Nazi regime. While others bowed, he stood. While others reasoned that silence was safety, he spoke out, knowing that his words might cost him his life. “Silence in the face of evil,” he said, “is itself evil.” He was imprisoned and executed, yet his voice did not die. It joined the chorus of those who understand that the greatest sin of mankind is not hatred, but indifference. Bonhoeffer’s courage reveals what Haile Selassie meant: that the silence of justice is not neutral—it is an accomplice to wrongdoing.

And yet, my children, take heed: courage is not born in the moment of crisis. It is forged long before, in the quiet choices of everyday life. The heart that fails to speak truth in small matters will not find its voice when the great storms come. Thus, Selassie’s teaching is not for kings and leaders alone—it is for all who dwell beneath the sun. Every worker who sees injustice and remains quiet, every friend who witnesses cruelty and turns away, every citizen who refuses to vote or stand or care—these are the hands that unknowingly help evil to triumph.

Let us also remember that indifference is not peace. It is the slow rot of the soul, the cooling of the spirit that once burned bright. When humanity ceases to feel the pain of others, it ceases to be truly human. Compassion is the lifeblood of justice, and without it, the heart grows cold. To know and not act is to betray both the truth and oneself. Therefore, the wise must train their hearts to care deeply, even when caring is costly, even when the world mocks the earnest and the brave.

The lesson, then, is clear and eternal: Do not be silent when truth is wounded. Do not be still when evil rises. Do not be indifferent when others suffer. Speak, act, and stand—however small your strength, however faint your voice. For history remembers not the comfort of the silent but the courage of the steadfast. The smallest act of goodness, the single word of truth, is like a spark that defies the darkness. Let your life be that flame.

So, my friends and children of the ages to come—be vigilant, be compassionate, be courageous. When you see wrong, confront it. When you hear lies, expose them. When others are silenced, lend them your voice. For in every generation, evil waits not for power but for permission. And it is your silence that grants it. Therefore, live as if your courage were the shield of the world—for truly, it is.