Anne Frank


I use to lie awake at night and worry about Anne Frank when I was a little girl. Long after she was dead.

My Grandma bought me a book, "The Diary of Anne Frank" which I struggled to read since I was still very young. Grandma and I had many discussions about Anne Frank, what she went through, how she continually expressed gratitude even under the most horrific circumstances.

Imagine hiding in your attic, in fear of the Nazis. Sheer, utter terror. And yet...
she wrote in her diary:
"I keep my ideals, because in spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart."

I had often thought while growing up, if Anne Frank can feel that way surrounded by such evil people while spending the last days of her life in a concentration camp, then I should surely be able to.

Her father gave her a diary for her 13th birthday. Here are a few of other quotes found in her diary after she died at age 15 in the concentration camp:
"I soothe my conscience now with the thought that it is better for hard words to be on paper than that Mummy should carry them in her heart."

"I simply can't build my hopes on a foundation of confusion, misery and death... I think... peace and tranquility will return again."

Check out the 20 second clip below.
It is the only video footage of Anne Frank, taken nearly a year before she and her family were forced into hiding.

9 seconds into the film, 13-year-old Anne is seen leaning out of a second-floor window, smiling and looking down at the street to see the bride and groom.

This video footage was given to Anne's father, Otto Frank(who survived the camp) in the 1950s, by the couple in the video when they recognized the girl following the publication of Anne's diary.

9 comments:

Ammy said...

Thank you for this post, Jill! I am so in awe of Anne Frank, well, World War II. I LOVE the first quote. Gives me something to think about!

Grandmotherfairy said...

Thank you for that thoughtful post. I just read awonderful book that reminded me of Anne Frank...it is called The Book Thief.

Lisa said...

I loved her book too. She was wise beyond her years and my husband actually visited the "hiding" place and couldn't believe how small that space really was where they were hiding. It broke his heart. Anne had a GIANT Spirit and she taught us all about human dignity, courage, faith, hope and strength. Your post is a great reminder of the lessons we learned from her!

darlene said...

I too loved that book as a young girl. Thank you so much for posting these quotes and that video! Wow!

Mary said...

Anne Frank is an inspiration. We should all aspire to be as hopeful as she was. I didn't even know there was a video of her. Thanks for that!

Rebecca said...

I visited her house in Amsterdam where they hid in the attic. I went up in that tiny little attic and could not imagine all those people living there for so long. Sad...

Karen Mortensen said...

Thank you for posting this. She was quit mature for 14. What insight she had.

Eileen said...

I just used your first Anne Frank quote on my prayer journal blog! The story of Anne Frank has always amazed me too. And I've read her diary over and over through the years.
I am bound and determined to visit that attic one day.
Beautiful post, Jill.
All the best,
Eileen

Cuttysark said...

Nice blog and thanks for sharing Anne Frank Quotes, i truly admire the girl spirit.

Cheers and hugs,

Cathy

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