To forgive is not to forget. The merit lies in loving in spite of the vivid knowledge that one that must be loved is not a friend. There is not merit in loving an enemy when you forget him for a friend.
Mahatma GandhiRead
Though violence is not lawful, when it is offered in self-defense or for the defense of the defenseless, it is an act of bravery far better than cowardly submission. The latter befits neither man nor woman. Under violence, there are many stages and varieties of bravery. Every man must judge this for himself. No other person can or has the right.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Violence can be justified in self-defense, representing bravery rather than cowardice.
In this quote, Mahatma Gandhi articulates the complex nature of violence and bravery. He acknowledges that while violence is generally unlawful, it can be deemed an act of courage when used in self-defense or to protect those unable to defend themselves. Gandhi emphasizes that the moral judgment of such actions is personal, suggesting that each individual must evaluate their circumstances and determine their response to aggression or harm. This perspective challenges the idea of passive submission to violence, asserting that courage manifests in various forms even within the spectrum of violence.
Themes
ViolenceSelf-DefenseBraveryCourageMoral Judgment
In practice
Example use cases
During a discussion on ethics in a philosophy class, one might quote Gandhi to provoke thought about the morality of self-defense.
More from Mahatma Gandhi
All quotes →Love never claims, it ever gives. Love ever suffers, never resents never revenges itself.
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Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.
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The real test of nonviolence lies in its being brought in contact with those who have contempt for it.
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Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.
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The devotion of such titans of spirit as Lenin to an Ideal must bear fruit. The nobility of his selflessness will be an example through centuries to come, and his Ideal will reach perfection.
Mahatma GandhiRead
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