Gandhi himself never ruled out violence absolutely and unreservedly. He conceded the necessity of arms in certain situations. He said, "Where choice is set between cowardice and violence, I would advise violence... I prefer to use arms in defense of honor rather than remain the vile witness of dishonor.

Silence becomes cowardice when occasion demands speaking out the whole truth and acting accordingly.

Intolerance is itself a form of violence and an obstacle to the growth of a true democratic spirit.

Poverty is the worst form of violence.

The Negro has many pent up resentments and latent frustrations, and he must release them. So let him march; let him make prayer pilgrimages to the city hall; let him go on freedom rides -and try to understand why he must do so. If his repressed emotions are not released in nonviolent ways, they will seek expression through violence; this is not a threat but a fact of history.

Violence is not the answer to social conflict whether it is engaged in by white people in Alabama or by Negroes in Los Angeles.