Non Violence Quotes

Mass marches transformed the common man into the star performer and engaged him in a total commitment. Yet nonviolent resistance caused no explosions of anger-it instigated no riots-it controlled anger and released it under discipline for maximum effect.

You must be willing to suffer the anger of the opponent and yet not return anger. No matter how emotional your opponents are, you must remain calm.

It was an army whose allegiance was to God and whose strategy and intelligence were eloquently simple dictates of conscience.

We did not hesitate to call our movement an army. But it was a special army, with no supplies but its sincerity, no uniform but its determination, no arsenal except its faith, no currency but its conscience.

Nonviolence means avoiding not only external physical violence but also internal violence of spirit.

Since being in India, I am more convinced than ever before that the method of nonviolent resistance is the most potent weapon available to oppressed people in their struggle for justice and human dignity.

The nonviolent resister not only refuses to shoot his opponent, but he also refuses to hate him.

We must have the compassion and understanding for those who hate us.

So it means that we must rise up and protest courageously wherever we find segregation. Yes, we must do it nonviolently. We cannot afford to use violence in the struggle.

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.

If you have weapons, take them home; if you do not have them, please do not seek to get them. We cannot solve this problem through retaliatory violence.

We are here, we are here this evening because we're tired now. And I want to say that we are not here advocating violence. We have never done that. I want it to be known throughout Montgomery and throughout this nation that we are Christian people. We believe in the Christian religion. We believe in the teachings of Jesus.

In the struggle for human rights and justice, Negros will make a mistake if they become bitter and indulge in hate campaigns.

The non-violent Negro is seeking to create the beloved community. He directs his attack on the forces of evil rather than on individuals.

Today it is no longer a choice between violence and nonviolence; it is either nonviolence or nonexistence.

We must work passionately and unrelentingly for the goal of freedom, but we must be sure that our hands are clean in the struggle. We must never struggle with falsehood, hate, or malice. We must never become bitter.

While abhorring segregation, we shall love the segregationist. This is the only way to create the beloved community.

In any nonviolent campaign there are four basic steps: collection of the facts to determine whether injustices exist; negotiation; self purification; and direct action.

Nonviolence is a powerful and just weapon. Indeed, it is a weapon unique in history, which cuts without wounding and ennobles the man who wields it.

Social change comes most meaningfully through non-violent action.