In the midst of the cries that increased in strength and duration, echoing a long way right to the foot of the building, while the many-coloured wreaths and showers of fireworks rose in ever greater numbers into the sky, Dr Rieux decided to write the account that ends here, so as not to be one of those who keep silent, to bear witness on behalf of the victims, to leave at least a memory of the violence and injustice that was done to them, and to say simply what it is that one learns in the midst of such tribulations, namely that there is more in men to admire than to despise.
Indarrez eta iraupenez areagotzen ari ziren eta, sorta kolore aniztunak gero eta ugariago zeruan gora egiten zuten neurrian, terrazaren azpialderaino durundatzen zuten oihuen erdian, orain bukatzera doan kontaera hau idatziko zuela erabaki zuen Rieux doktoreak, isilik geratzen diren horietako bat ez izatearren, izurripean eroritako haien alde testifikatzearren, egindako bidegabekeriaren eta bortxakeriaren oroitzapena behintzat geratzearren, eta, besterik gabe, errauspenen erdian ikasten dena esatearren, hots, gauza gehiago daudela gizonengan miresgarriak direnak mespretxagarriak baino.