Lessons from Auschwitz: The power of our words - Benjamin Zander

Classical music mastermind Benjamin Zander concluded his 2008 TED Talk by recounting the heartrending story of an Auschwitz survivor and her brother. This short animated piece highlights that story, reminding us that the words we speak to one another are incredibly powerful tools that we shouldn't take for granted.

Lesson by Benjamin Zander, animation by Seesaw Studios.

[GurzSo]

"I will never say anything that couldn't stand as the last thing I will ever say."
-Truly a lesson worth sharing. :')

[kthistle]

wow, very powerful lesson, i still regret not telling my grandmother i loved her the last time i saw her before cancer stole her from us, i was young and naive and though "ill see her tomorrow, why tell her today?" tomorrow never came and im stuck wishing i could just go back and say 2 measly words that she wanted to hear

[killaddict]

I regret not talking to my grandmother one last time before she passed. Wish I could of told her "I love you" one last time.

[HienNguyenHMN]

An excellent life lesson. More people should follow this rule online.

[VEV-cuno]

Under appreciated video. Sad to see it's getting almost no attention at all.

[huongduongthu]

Mr.zander I can't believe aside from composing amazingly you also do this stuff. As always, I'm moved, sir.

[DHBlaze]

Honestly this it self is true, I lost my mother a little after Thanks Giving of last year but the last words I spoke to her while she was still capable of hearing them were words of Hate and displeasure. I don't think I've ever regretted anything more in my life in my own actions.

[TheMoggiemum]

one of my family's stories.... when my Nana was young she was asked out by a boy she didn't like, she said no drop dead, a few days later he died in a car accident and she felt guilty that she had been so mean. the old saying 'never let the sun set on an argument' is very true. all of us in anger say things we don't truely mean most of us get the chance to apologise later but not always. none of us are perfect but we can try to be better.

[katherineknapp]

✡😢 TO EVERYONE WHO DIED AND TO EVERYONE WHO SURVIVED AND EVERYONE FAMILY, MY HEART AND PRAYERS GO OUT TO YOU.

[adelaidegibca]

I can relate to this....sometimes we take life for granted...

[elexuasf]

They went to where?!?
I'm sorry; I couldn't hear a thing in the beginning...music was really loud!

[erc]

I'm surprised by how many people are distracted by the sound effects.  

[SAsgarters]

So basically everything you say should be a presumably glorified "YOLO".

[OttoVonGarfield]

A much bigger moral here is that words have more power than any of us could imagine, say if a boy grew up thinking "one day, I'll rule the world" This boy usually grows up and sees this as a fantasy never to come true.

   If the boy never grew out of it, and made it his life goal, worked with all effort to establish his life goal, this boy goes on to become the leader of a small political party which eventually grows thanks to him, and then this party gains majority power, and then he is given permission by his loving fans to become an autocratic dictator.
   
      2 things can happen from this point: He can use his vast influence to dominate the global economy with his new regime, or launch a war against his neighbors, turning his country in to a war machine, conquering a few small nations at first, but perfects his military strategy, and eventually, conquers the continent, and then the world.

         All of this happened because the boy learned to use the true, untapped power of our words and potential, that potential can destroy or create.
Be wise with it humanity.

[darkqwartzsytal]

Sister: you're kinda sus
Brother: aight imma head out

[ericbarton]

Hi everyone I have been watching you on net Flix and a few other goodies I like what you all have to say my situation is interesting as well. I'm hindered to make rapid life progress for myself I'm learning to take my time and watching what I say too. What you teach is good be aware of what you say and do is what I got from this message. What about make sure what you say is true because some people really need to hear it whether it hurts there feelings or not let them know before you hurt them say something like ok I'm going to hurt your feelings now and let them have it it helps to let them know before you do it.

[huongdo]

what does this quote :" I will never say anything that couldn't stand as the last thing I ever say" mean? thanks

[ll__ll]

I didn't get it anyone please explain

[OBuzzMichael]

i dont get it
can some one explain what he means by no, its is a possibility to live in to??

[LukasFrimerTholander]

Good qoute and all, but is it really worth making a whole video out of it?