These words were literally spoken by Dietrich Bonhoeffer whose full quote is:

“Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.”

There most certainly are times when silence speaks louder than words, as scripture teaches us there is a time to speak and a time to be silent. When we have spoken the truth and the works of evil insist in fighting for it’s own way, it is then we see the hand of God move when we stay silent! (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8) To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

Dietrich Bonhoeeffer spoke these words many years ago as one who viewed the torment of others, and then sadly this torment fell upon his own life. He was arrested in 1943 and then executed in the Flossenburg concentration camp in April 1945! He was a german Pastor who was a critic of the natzi regime and fought against the nazivication of the german evangelical church. He was a man that was misunderstood, as many who are true christians are. In light of what this man suffered we ourselves in our present day encounter the same evil others have no problem performing as though God cannot see them torment and control others. Many forget in the end of our life we all stand before the judgment seat of Christ and give answer for how we treated others ( Psalm 37:8-15) Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth. For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be. But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.  The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.  The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.  The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation. Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.

If we can look at the suffering of others around us and say nothing, and if we can see one who may not be able to speak up for themselves and do nothing then we are just as guilty as those who are inflicting the harm! Scripture teaches us if we are a christian then we strengthen the weak and stand up for those who are overpowered and not strong enough to fight for themselves. If we do so we will fortunately be of those who will be able to enjoy the beauty of the Lord where the redeemed of the Lord will one day walk! (Isaiah 35:3-10) Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.  Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you. Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert. And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes. And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.  No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there:  And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. 

From the concentration camps of Hitler to the evil which people still choose today, God is a just God and the fate of our actions will one day be judged and weighed by Him who will make the separation of those who truly did do His will in the earth and those who chose not to (Matthew 25:31-36) When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:  And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:  For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 

If you are looking for a good book to read “The Cost of Discipleship” written by Dietrich Bonhoeffer is very good.