“Writing in a diary is a really strange experience for someone like me. Not only because I’ve never written anything before, but also because it seems to me that later on neither I nor anyone else will be interested in the musings of a thirteen-year-old schoolgirl.”
- 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
“Writing in a diary is a really strange experience for someone like me. Not only because I’ve never written anything before, but also because it seems to me that later on neither I nor anyone else will be interested in the musings of a thirteen-year-old schoolgirl.”
Explanation
Anne Frank’s reflection at the outset of her diary reveals a touching mix of humility, uncertainty, and unintentional irony. She doubts the significance of her own thoughts, dismissing them as the trivial “musings of a thirteen-year-old schoolgirl.” This self-effacing comment is striking when viewed in hindsight, considering that her diary would become one of the most widely read and impactful personal accounts of the Holocaust and adolescence in history.
Her sense that “neither I nor anyone else will be interested” underscores a common adolescent fear: that one’s inner world is too ordinary or insignificant to matter. Yet, in expressing this, Anne captures a universal feeling that makes her voice all the more relatable. The beauty of her diary lies in precisely this contradiction—what she imagined as unimportant has become a global testament to resilience, thoughtfulness, and the inner life of a young person in extraordinary circumstances.
Today, Anne’s words serve as an enduring reminder of the value of every voice, no matter how young, uncertain, or seemingly small. In a world often obsessed with expertise and authority, her diary proves that authentic, honest storytelling can transcend age, background, and time. Her musings did matter—and continue to matter—to millions around the world.
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