No violent extreme endures.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
Nonviolence is fine as long as it works.
—Malcolm X (1925–65) American Civil Rights Leader
Power and violence are opposites; where the one rules absolutely, the other is absent. Violence appears where power is in jeopardy, but left to its own course it ends in power’s disappearance.
—Hannah Arendt (1906–75) German-American Philosopher, Political Theorist
The ultimate weakness of violence is that it is a descending spiral, begetting the very thing it seeks to destroy. Instead of diminishing evil, it multiplies it. Through violence you may murder the liar, but you cannot murder the lie, nor establish the truth. Through violence you murder the hater, but you do not murder hate. In fact, violence merely increases hate… Returning violence for violence multiples violence, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
—Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929–68) American Civil Rights Leader, Clergyman
Rambo isn’t violent. I see Rambo as a philanthropist.
—Sylvester Stallone (b.1946) American Actor, Screenwriter, Director
Only a philosophy of eternity, in the world today, could justify non-violence.
—Albert Camus (1913–60) Algerian-born French Philosopher, Dramatist, Novelist
It is not right, my fellow-countrymen, you who know very well all the crimes committed in our name, it
—Jean-Paul Sartre (1905–80) French Philosopher, Playwright, Novelist, Activist
Greatness is not achieved with violence.
—African Proverb
Violence does even justice unjustly.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
Poverty is the worst form of violence.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
The use of violence as an instrument of persuasion is therefore inviting and seems to the discontented to be the only effective protest.
—William O. Douglas (1898–1980) American Judge
I maintain that nothing useful and lasting can emerge from violence.
—Shirin Ebadi (b.1947) Iranian Human Rights Activist
Non-violence is not a garment to be put on and off at will. Its seat is in the heart, and it must be inseparable part of our very being.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
The limitation of riots, moral questions aside, is that they cannot win and their participants know it. Hence, rioting is not revolutionary but reactionary because it invites defeat. It involves an emotional catharsis, but it must be followed by a sense of futility.
—Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929–68) American Civil Rights Leader, Clergyman
Violence ever defeats its own ends. Where you cannot drive you can always persuade. A gentle word, a kind look, a god-natured smile can work wonders and accomplish miracles. There is a secret pride in every human heart than revolts at tyranny. You may order and drive an individual, but you cannot make him respect you.
—William Hazlitt (1778–1830) English Essayist
Violence can only be concealed by a lie, and the lie can only be maintained by violence. Any man who has once proclaimed violence as his method is inevitably forced to take the lie as his principle.
—Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn (1918–2008) Russian Dissident Novelist
The cause of violence is not ignorance. It is self-interest. Only reverance can restrain violence – reverance for human life and the environment.
—William Sloane Coffin (1924–2006) American Clergyman, Activist
You forget that the kingdom of heaven suffers violence: and the kingdom of heaven is like a woman.
—James Joyce (1882–1941) Irish Novelist, Poet
Violence is unnecessary and costly. Peace is the only way.
—Julius Nyerere (1922–99) Tanzanian Statesman
Nonviolence is a flop. The only bigger flop is violence.
—Joan Baez (b.1941) American Singer, Songwriter, Activist
The violence done us by others is often less painful than that which we do to ourselves.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
I first learned the concepts of non-violence in my marriage.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
Nothing violent, oft have I heard tell, can be permanent.
—Christopher Marlowe (1564–93) English Playwright, Poet, Translator
Love is stronger than violence.
—Hermann Hesse (1877–1962) German-born Swiss Novelist, Poet
One must do violence to the object of one’s desire; when it surrenders, the pleasure is greater.
—Marquis de Sade (1740–1814) French Writer
Victory attained by violence is tantamount to a defeat, for it is momentary.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
Violent delights have violent ends, and in their triumph die; like fire and powder, which, as they kiss, consume.—They are as sick that surfeit with too much, as they that starve with nothing.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Opinions founded on prejudice are always sustained with the greatest violence.
—Hebrew Proverb
The question is no longer between violence and non-violence; it is between non-violence and non-existence.
—Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929–68) American Civil Rights Leader, Clergyman
Peace cannot be achieved through violence, it can only be attained through understanding.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
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