Acceptance Quote by Arun Gandhi
““In recent decades we have emphasized the value of teaching people 'tolerance.' Tolerance is not only inadequate, it is a negative concept which only alienates society further. Learning to tolerate absolves people of the responsibility of learning to understand different people, accept and appreciate their differences, and progress towards respecting them for who and what they are. It is only when we build acceptance between people that we will rid ourselves of the scourge of prejudice and liberate ourselves from violence.””
About This Quote
Source Speech: Public address on tolerance, date unknown
The quote argues that tolerance is insufficient and can distance people, advocating for deeper acceptance and understanding to combat prejudice and violence.
In simple terms: Tolerance alone isn’t enough; we need true acceptance.
Foster genuine understanding and acceptance.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- education reform
- community dialogues
- diversity training
- conflict resolution
- policy making
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we move from mere tolerance to active acceptance?
- What actions promote genuine understanding?
Tolerance may be a starting point but can become complacent without active effort to understand.