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
Violence of the tongue is very real-sharper than any knife.
—Mother Teresa (1910–97) Roman Catholic Missionary, Nun
All breathing, existing, living, sentient creatures should not be slain nor treated with violence, nor abused, nor tormented, nor driven away. This is the pure unchangeable law.
—Buddhist Teaching
There are situations in life to which the only satisfactory response is a physically violent one. If you don’t make that response, you continually relive the unresolved situation over and over in your life.
—Russell Hoban (1925–2011) American Novelist, Children’s Writer
The more dubious and uncertain an instrument violence has become in international relations, the more it has gained in reputation and appeal in domestic affairs, specifically in the matter of revolution.
—Hannah Arendt (1906–75) German-American Philosopher, Political Theorist
Violence is not merely killing another. It is violence when we use a sharp word, when we make a gesture to brush away a person, when we obey because there is fear. So violence isn’t merely organized butchery in the name of God, in the name of society or country. Violence is much more subtle, much deeper, and we are inquiring into the very depths of violence.
—Jiddu Krishnamurti (1895–1986) Indian Philosopher
Nonviolence is a flop. The only bigger flop is violence.
—Joan Baez (b.1941) American Singer, Songwriter, Musician
Under all conditions, well-organized violence seems to him the shortest distance between two points.
—Leon Trotsky (1879–1940) Russian Marxist Revolutionary
I object to violence because when it appears to do good, the good is only temporary; the evil it does is permanent.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
Non-violence and truth are inseparable and presuppose one another.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
Nothing good ever comes of violence.
—Martin Luther (1483–1546) German Protestant Theologian
Can you understand why the Congress, most states and most cities refuse to pass legislation requiring the registration and licensing of any and all guns? For the life of me, I can’t. We must register our cars and be licensed to drive. In many places we must get licenses for dogs and even bicycles. Being required to register firearms and show the competence and capacity to handle them hardly seems unreasonable, hardly seems an infringement of freedom. What is it that blocks such legislation? Why do they block it? How are they able to block it?
—Malcolm S. Forbes (1919–1990) American Publisher, Businessperson
If violence is wrong in America, violence is wrong abroad. If it is wrong to be violent defending black women and black children and black babies and black men, then it is wrong for America to draft us, and make us violent abroad in defense of her. And if it is right for America to draft us, and teach us how to be violent in defense of her, then it is right for you and me to do whatever is necessary to defend our own people right here in this country.
—Malcolm X (1925–65) American Civil Rights Leader
Greatness is not achieved with violence.
—African Proverb
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
Perseverance is more prevailing than violence; and many things which cannot be overcome when they are together, yield themselves up when taken little by little.
—Plutarch (c.46–c.120 CE) Greek Biographer, Philosopher
Peace cannot be achieved through violence, it can only be attained through understanding.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Violence commands both literature and life, and violence is always crude and distorted.
—Ellen Glasgow (1873–1945) American Novelist
I do believe that, where there is only a choice between cowardice and violence, I would advise violence….I would rather have India resort to arms in order to defend her honour than that she should, in a cowardly manner, become or remain a helpless witness to her own dishonour.But I believe that nonviolence is infinitely superior to violence, forgiveness is more manly than punishment. Forgiveness adorns a soldier…But abstinence is forgiveness only when there is the power to punish; it is meaningless when it pretends to proceed from a helpless creature….But I do not believe India to be helpless….I do not believe myself to be a helpless creature….Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
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
Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.
—John F. Kennedy (1917–63) American Head of State, Journalist
There is a violence that liberates, and a violence that enslaves; there is a violence that is moral and a violence that is immoral.
—Benito Mussolini (1883–1945) Italian Head of State, Politician
The pursuit of truth does not permit violence on one’s opponent.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
Vehemence without feeling is but rant.
—George Henry Lewes (1817–78) English Philosopher, Literary Critic, Art Critic
Violent fires soon burn out themselves, small showers last long, but sudden storms are short; he tires betimes that spurs too fast.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Violence does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls into the pit which he digs for another.
—Arthur Conan Doyle (1859–1930) Scottish Writer
Poverty is the worst form of violence.
—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
Freedom is poetry, taking liberties with words, breaking the rules of normal speech, violating common sense. Freedom is violence.
—Norman O. Brown (1913–2002) American Philosopher
If you injure your neighbor, better not do it by halves.
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) Irish Playwright