Quotes about Nonviolence

We merely want to live in peace with all the world.

The timid may say, "What is the use? We shall be sent to prison." To them I would reply: Even if only two percent of those assigned to perform military service should announce their refusal to fight, as well as urge means other than war of settling international disputes, governments would be powerless, they would not dare send such a large number of people to jail.

Man lives freely only by his readiness to die, if need be, at the hands of his brother, never by killing him.

We will not learn how to live together in peace by killing each other's children.

Protest is OK. But protests, according to my King family legacy, should be peaceful.

You must show the world that you abhor fighting.

We who engage in nonviolent direct action are not the creators of tension. We merely bring to the surface the hidden tension that is already alive.

We must in strength and humility meet hate with love.

People who think nonviolence is easy don't realize that it's a spiritual discipline that requires a great deal of strength, growth, and purging of the self so that one can overcome almost any obstacle for the good of all without being concerned about one's own welfare.

The opponent strikes you on your cheek, and you strike him on the heart by your amazing spiritual audacity in turning the other cheek. You wrest the offensive from him by refusing to take his weapons, by keeping your own, and by striking him in his conscience from a higher level. He hits you physically, and you hit him spiritually.

Resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

Nonviolent nationalism is a necessary condition of corporate or civilized life.