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About this quote

What does it mean?
Understanding the strength and love of nonviolence makes people reluctant to give it up.
In plain terms
Once people see the power of nonviolence, they stick with it.
What can you take from it?
Experience with nonviolence builds lasting commitment.

Where it applies

  • movement building
  • conflict training
  • organizing

Putting it to work

  • share nonviolent successes
  • build community response
  • teach nonviolence

Questions to consider

  • What keeps people committed to peace?
  • How does love fuel movements?

Another view

Immediate pressure can still push people toward violent retaliation.

More from Cesar Chavez

  1. Non-violence, which is the quality of the heart, cannot come by an appeal to the brain.

    Permalink to quote #78
  2. Organizing is an educational process. The best educational process in the union is the picket line and the boycott. You learn about life.

    Permalink to quote #80
  3. Non-violence really rests on the reservoir that you have to create in yourself of patience; not of being patient with the problems, but being patient with your…

    Permalink to quote #77

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