We Have All Become Orphans

First they came for the Communists,
But I was not a Communist,
So I said nothing.

Then they came for the Social Democrats,
But I was not a Social Democrat,
So I did nothing.

Then they came for the trade unionists,
But I was not a trade unionist,
So I did not speak out.

And then they came for the Jews,
But I was not a Jew,
So I did little.

Then when they came for me,
There was no one left who could stand up for me.

by Rev. Martin Niemoller, 1945