“I’ve reached the point where I hardly care whether I live or die. The world will keep on turning without me, and I can’t do anything to change events anyway.”
- June 12, 1929 – February/March 1945
- German-Dutch
- Diarist, Holocaust Victim, Symbol of the Human Cost of War and Persecution
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Quote
“I’ve reached the point where I hardly care whether I live or die. The world will keep on turning without me, and I can’t do anything to change events anyway.”
Explanation
This quote reveals one of the darkest emotional moments in Anne Frank’s diary—a time when hopelessness and helplessness begin to overtake her enduring optimism. Her admission that she “hardly care[s] whether [she] live[s] or die[s]” is a striking contrast to many of her earlier reflections, showing the mental toll of prolonged fear, confinement, and uncertainty. It is a moment of emotional surrender, where the weight of her circumstances temporarily eclipses her natural resilience.
Anne’s words reflect not only personal despair but also a broader existential crisis. She sees herself as powerless in the face of war and persecution, and feels disconnected from a world that seems indifferent to her suffering. The phrase “the world will keep on turning without me” underscores a painful sense of insignificance—one that many people, especially under extreme pressure or isolation, have felt. Her candidness offers an unfiltered glimpse into the psychological strain experienced by victims of oppression.
In modern times, this quote resonates deeply with those battling depression, displacement, or feeling marginalized by events larger than themselves. Yet, even in this bleak passage, Anne’s honesty gives voice to those who struggle in silence. Her diary’s survival and global impact serve as a powerful contradiction to her own doubts: though she believed she couldn’t change events, her words have done just that—touching millions and affirming that every voice matters.
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