After the silence of many in the Nazi rise to power and the resulting World War II, Martin Niemöller (German theologian and Lutheran pastor who opposed the Nazi rule) wrote a saying in 1946 that has been repeated in various forms since.

• First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out - because I was not a socialist.
• Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out - because I was not a trade unionist.
• Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out - because I was not a Jew.
• Then they came for me - and there was no one left to speak for me.