Nothing is so unworthy of a civilized nation as allowing itself to be governed without opposition by an irresponsible clique that has yielded to base instinct. It is certain that today every honest German is ashamed of his government. Who among us has any conception of the dimensions of shame that will befall us and our children when one day the veil has fallen from our eyes and the most horrible of crimes – crimes that infinitely outdistance every human measure – reach the light of day? If the German people are already so corrupted and spiritually crushed that they do not raise a hand, frivolously trusting in a questionable faith in lawful order of history; if they surrender mans highest principle, that which raises him above all other Gods creatures, his free will; if they abandon the will to take decisive action and turn the wheel of history and thus subject it to their own rational decision; if they are so devoid of all individuality, have already gone so far along the road toward turning into a spiritless and cowardly mass – then, yes, they deserve their downfall.
— Hans & Sophie Scholl, from the first leaflet of The White Rose [1942]
- Scholl Short History
FreeDictionary.com - Sophie Scholl Bio
Spartacus.net - The White Rose: A Lesson in Dissent
by Jacob G. Hornberger
Future of Freedom Foundation - A History of The White Rose
JLRWeb.com - First Leaflet of The White Rose
by Hans & Sophie Scholl
JLRWeb.com