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Violence is not merely killing another. It is violence when we use a sharp word, when we make a gesture to brush away a person, when we obey because there is fear. So violence isn't merely organized butchery in the name of God, in the name of society or country. Violence is much more subtle, much deeper, and we are inquiring into the very depths of violence. When you call yourself an Indian or a Muslim or a Christian or a European, or anything else, you are being violent. Do you see why it is violent? Because you are separating yourself from the rest of mankind. When you separate yourself by belief, by nationality, by tradition, it breeds violence. So a man who is seeking to understand violence does not belong to any country, to any religion, to any political party or partial system; he is concerned with the total understanding of mankind.

Jiddu Krishnamurti#30

BeliefIdentityHumanityNationalismSeparationViolence

About this quote

What does it mean?
Violence is rooted in psychological separation through labels, beliefs, and national identities.
In plain terms
Separating yourself by labels causes violence.
What can you take from it?
Look beyond identities to reduce violence.

Where it applies

  • conflict resolution
  • identity politics
  • peacebuilding

Putting it to work

  • question identities
  • find common humanity
  • reduce division

Questions to consider

  • How does your identity separate you?
  • Can you feel connected to all?

Another view

Sometimes boundaries are necessary for safety.

More from Jiddu Krishnamurti

  1. When we look at what is taking place in the world we begin to understand that there is no outer and inner process; there is only one unitary process, it is a w…

    Permalink to quote #29
  2. The core of Krishnamurti's teaching is contained in the statement he made in 1929 when he said: 'Truth is a pathless land'. Man cannot come to it through any o…

    Permalink to quote #31
  3. It is important to understand from the very beginning that I am not formulating any philosophy or any theological structure of ideas or theological concepts. I…

    Permalink to quote #28

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