Before Nobel laureate Elie Wiesel spoke Sunday at Northwestern’s Cahn Auditorium, he talked one-on-one with The Daily. The following is a transcript of the interview.

Daily: Does the amount of human suffering that exists today discourage you

or dishearten you at all?

Wiesel: It saddens me. It challenges me to work harder.

Daily: At the end of “Night,” you wrote that the men freed from the camp did not think of revenge. Did you ever think of revenge?

Wiesel: No.

Daily: No?

Wiesel: Never.

Daily: During your years in the concentration camps, what gave you hope?

Wiesel: Nothing.

Daily: What do you think made you survive then?

Wiesel: I have no idea. (It was) by chance.

Daily: You once said, “Indifference now is equal to evil.”

Wiesel: No, I said, ‘Indifference to evil is equal to evil’ because it strengthens people … it strengthens evil.

Daily: Has humanity changed since the Holocaust?

Wiesel: Unfortunately it hasn’t changed that much. It takes more than a few generations to change a human nation. Those who are intent to bring (change) will do so. More people are aware of the consequences of hatred. People are aware. Therefore more people are engaged in fighting … racism and so forth.

Daily: Does it give you hope to see that there are more people engaged in fighting?

Wiesel: Yes. Absolutely.

Daily: Do you see that in your students as well?

Wiesel: My students are very special. They are my source of pride, my source of joy, my source of hope. I am terribly fond of my students, as you can see.

Daily: Do you think that terrorism has made Americans more aware of the need to help the fellow man?

Wiesel: I think so. 9/11 has been a turning point in American history, there’s no doubt about that.

Daily: Has this attitude subsided at all, since it’s been a couple years (since the tragedy)?

Wiesel: It’s there. It’s not as strong as it was in the beginning, but it’s still there…

Daily: Is America’s war on terrorism a realistic endeavor?

Wiesel: Yes. It’s a necessary one. Absolutely. It must be done no matter what. It must be a worldwide campaign.

Daily: A worldwide campaign?

Wiesel: Yes. It’s not only America. Terrorism now is a threat to the whole world.

Daily: What about all of the civilian casualties in the war?

Wiesel: Civilian casualties where?

Daily: In Iraq.

Wiesel: I’m not a military man. I wish I were, then maybe I could give some advice. All I hope is that the American coalition is doing its best to prevent civilian casualties and the killing of innocent people.

Daily: What political leaders or prominent leaders in general do you really respect?

Wiesel: Oh, I cannot answer that. I’m not a political person. I usually beware of political persons. I know many, but I’m not one of them. I have no political ambitions.

Daily: Why do you beware of politicians?

Wiesel: Because I’m not a political person, and their ambitions are not mine. They want power. I don’t want power.

Daily: Lastly, who has had the most impact on your life?

Wiesel: My teachers. Of course, my father and grandfather, but after my family, my teachers.

Daily: Did that influence your decision to become a teacher?

Wiesel: Absolutely. I think it is the noblest profession.