Those Who Look On And Do Nothing

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 25 July 2025 Elias Canetti's famous quote, "The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing," always gets me thinking because it encapsulates the importance of active engagement in creating positive change. It highlights the fact that the true threat to society lies in the passivity and indifference exhibited by those who witness wrongdoing but choose to remain silent. By failing to challenge injustice or stand up against unethical actions, individuals inadvertently enable the perpetuation of harm and contribute to a more perilous world. Canetti's words serve as a powerful reminder that it is our moral duty to actively participate in shaping a safer and more just society, for our inaction can inadvertently fuel the very evils we wish to combat. Our collective inaction is obvious in the case and context of what has been going on in West Asia. Israel has been pummelling and pounding poor Palestinians since October 7, 2023 when Hamas began it. Now it seems that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict will go on unabated as the rest of the world is still not united and vocal on this count. It seems, we're still not sufficiently anguished and distraught by the wretched fate of the beleaguered Palestinians who're dying like insects. We may sympathise but we can't empathise because we're not facing the Holocaust of the 21st century. "Saahil Ke Tamashai Har Doobne Wale Par/ Afsos Toh Karte Hain, Imdaad Nahin Karte " (Bystanders on the shore sympathise with the drowning person but they don't provide any significant help). Our glacial indifference is responsible for the deaths and relentless sufferings of innumerable innocent people. We must never forget that no one can be whole and satisfied until all are. True fulfilment and contentment are intricately as well as inextricably tied to the welfare of others. As individuals, we cannot truly attain wholeness and fulfilment in isolation, for our lives are interconnected. In recognizing the interconnectedness of humanity, we bear the responsibility to uplift and support one another in order to achieve true satisfaction. It is through lifting others up, advocating for equality, and actively working towards the betterment of society that we can contribute to the collective journey toward wholeness and fulfilment for all. Our own well-being is ultimately intertwined with the well-being of others, fostering a deeper sense of empathy and fostering a more compassionate world. If today, we remain indifferent to the plight of our fellow brethren, the same dismal fate can befall us tomorrow with a greater intensity and severity. Remember, no one is eternally safe and permanently protected. ----- Nobel laureate in Literature (1981), Elias Canetti was born on July 25. URL: https://www.newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/look-do-nothing/d/136285 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism