A 13-year-old girl who was introduced through her relatable chapter about teachers was how I remembered Anne Frank before reading her diary. I still remember her phrase, “Teachers are the most unpredictable creatures in this World” because it was the funniest and most truthful statement that I had ever come across in my grade-school life. But it wasn’t until recently, years later, when I decided to give a shot at reading the complete diary of Anne Frank. And let me tell me, it totally wowed me away.
Anne Frank was born in Frankfurt, Germany in 1929. She was a Jew and her full name was Annelise Marie Frank. On her 13th birthday, her father Otto Frank gifted her a diary as a birthday gift. However, this diary became a place of solace and the chronicles of German-Nazi events as recorded by Anne Frank when she went into hiding with her family from the German Nazi in ‘Secret Annexe’. (1942- 1944). She died in 1945 after her family was captured by the Nazis and later killed in Holocaust. Her father Otto Frank, who was the last survivor, discovered Anne’s diary and decided to publish it.
Anne’s diary carries her confessions, philosophies, and convictions. The beginning of her diary starts on a casual note as Anne confesses her emotions to her diary ‘Kitty. She talks about her social life, crushes, and school. However, these entries change once she goes into hiding with her family and admits her worries, faults, anxiety, and ideas that she faces in the ‘Secret Annex’. Her thoughts are profound and simple, exploring the tiniest details of life and her longing for the joys and sorrows of ordinary life.
When I first read her complete diary, there were many instances where I was shooked by her maturity and thoughtfulness, and there were moments where I sympathized, related, and longed for life with her. What was more intriguing for me was how the thoughts that I began to have when I was 18 were the thoughts that Anne had at the age of 13. Her keen observations about life and herself made me realize so many things that I was blind to before. There were instances where I found her childish side and there were instances where I saw the grown-up in her. At each stage she made me feel for her and her philosophies.
So here is a short compilation of her profound thoughts that I have picked for you. I hope you can learn and appreciate life and people the way Anne did, and maybe get a bit more curious about this girl and decide to grab her diary to explore more of her life and thoughts.
At such moments I don’t think about all the misery, but about the beauty that still remains. This is where Mother and I differ greatly. Her advice in the face of melancholy is: “Think about all the suffering in the world and be thankful you’re not part of it.” My advice is: “Go outside, to the country, enjoy the sun and all nature has to offer. Go outside and try to recapture the happiness within yourself; think of all the beauty in yourself and in everything around you and be happy.
We aren’t allowed to have any opinions. People can tell you to keep your mouth shut, but it doesn’t stop you from having your own opinion. Even if people are still very young, they shouldn’t be prevented from saying what they think.
How noble and good everyone could be if, every evening before falling asleep, they were to recall to their minds the events of the whole day and consider exactly what has been good and bad. Then without realizing it, you try to improve yourself at the start of each new day.
As long as this exists, this sunshine and this cloudless sky, and as long as I can enjoy it, how can I be sad?
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.
Because paper has more patience than people.
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