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About this quote

What does it mean?
Indian anarchists in London were brave but their use of violence was misguided. Civilisation requires higher weapons like nonviolence for self-protection.
In plain terms
Bravery in violence is not enough; higher moral weapons are needed.
What can you take from it?
Use moral strength instead of violence for self-protection.

Where it applies

  • revolutionary movements
  • political philosophy
  • national independence

Putting it to work

  • advocate nonviolent resistance
  • critique violent methods
  • elevate moral discourse

Questions to consider

  • What tools are fit for self-protection?
  • Can violence ever be a higher weapon?

Another view

Some argue that violent resistance is necessary when other options are blocked.

More from Mahatma Gandhi

  1. Victory attained by violence is tantamount to a defeat, for it is momentary.

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  2. If India adopted the doctrine of love as an active part of her religion and introduced it in her politics. Swaraj would descent upon India from heaven. But I a…

    Permalink to quote #8
  3. You say that the magistrate's decision is unsatisfactory because it would enable a person, however unclean, to travel by a tram, and that even the Kaffirs woul…

    Permalink to quote #5

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