--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You can't answer violence with counter…" description: "\"You can't answer violence with counter violence ... The answer is love. The best sabotage is love.\" — Athol Fugard" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0e/athol-fugard-13222_answers_you-can-t-answer-violence-with-counter-v_1363781.jpg" --- # You can't answer violence with counter violence ... The… ![“You can't answer violence with counter violence ... The answer is love. The best sabotage is love.” quote by Athol Fugard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0e/athol-fugard-13222_answers_you-can-t-answer-violence-with-counter-v_1363781.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0e/athol-fugard-13222_answers_you-can-t-answer-violence-with-counter-v_1363781.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0e/athol-fugard-13222_answers_you-can-t-answer-violence-with-counter-v_1363781.jpg) > “You can't answer violence with counter violence ... The answer is love. The best sabotage is love.” [Athol Fugard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/athol-fugard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Violence be be met with more violence; love is the ultimate, non‑violent response. **In simple terms:** Answer violence with love, not more violence. Key Takeaway Choose love over retaliation. Themes peace non‑violence love Mood hopeful serious Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - conflict resolution - personal relationships - social activism Key Concepts ethical resistance transformative power Questions to Reflect On - How can love be applied in hostile situations? - What are limits of love as resistance? A Different Perspective Love may not stop immediate harm; practical protection may be needed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Crime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crime/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Sabotage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sabotage/) [Violence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violence/) ## Related quotes > [This is a time that calls for extreme restraint. In a world of outright aggression and violence there can be no winners. To respond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenzin-palmo/this-is-a-time-that-calls-for-extreme-restraint-in-a-world-of/) [Tenzin Palmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenzin-palmo/) > [Americans across our country are feeling a sense of helplessness, of uncertainty and of fear. These feelings are understandable and they are justified. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loretta-lynch/americans-across-our-country-are-feeling-a-sense-of-helplessness-of/) [Loretta Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loretta-lynch/) > [ The other thing to realize is that almost all these shootings, including this shooting \[in San-Bernardino\], happened in a government building where people are… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/the-other-thing-to-realize-is-that-almost-all-these-shootings/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [I think violence is counter-productive and it is bad in democratic societies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-trudeau/i-think-violence-is-counter-productive-and-it-is-bad-in-democratic/) [Pierre Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-trudeau/) > [The moral to be legitimately drawn from the supreme tragedy of the bomb is that it will not be destroyed by counter bombs even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/the-moral-to-be-legitimately-drawn-from-the-supreme-tragedy-of-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Violence maims not only the body but also the mind and spirit. As Pierre Bourdieu has argued, it lies "on the side of belief…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/violence-maims-not-only-the-body-but-also-the-mind-and-spirit-as/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [The major job was getting people to understand that they had something within their power that they could use, and it could only be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-baker/the-major-job-was-getting-people-to-understand-that-they-had/) [Ella Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-baker/) > [Violence always thrived on counter violence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/violence-always-thrived-on-counter-violence/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [“The answer to violence is the improvement of childhood.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-molyneux/the-answer-to-violence-is-the-improvement-of-childhood/) [Stefan Molyneux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-molyneux/) > [Violence isn't the answer. Violence is the question and the answer is yes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/violence-isn-t-the-answer-violence-is-the-question-and-the-answer-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Mediocrity is no answer to violence. In fact, it probably invites violence. At least the mediocre and the violent appear together as in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hillman/mediocrity-is-no-answer-to-violence-in-fact-it-probably-invites/) [James Hillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hillman/) > [“In answer to 'But violence hasn't solved anything!' The hell it hasn't. The application of violence - of killing and a willingness to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markham-shaw-pyle/in-answer-to-but-violence-hasn-t-solved-anything-the-hell-it-hasn-t/) [Markham Shaw Pyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markham-shaw-pyle/) > [Violence is the only way to answer violence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gudrun-ensslin/violence-is-the-only-way-to-answer-violence/) [Gudrun Ensslin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gudrun-ensslin/) > [Answer violence with violence. If one of us falls today, five of them must fall tomorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evita-peron/answer-violence-with-violence-if-one-of-us-falls-today-five-of-them/) [Evita Peron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evita-peron/) > [The answer to violence is even more democracy. Even more humanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jens-stoltenberg/the-answer-to-violence-is-even-more-democracy-even-more-humanity/) [Jens Stoltenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jens-stoltenberg/) ## More by Athol Fugard > [My life had been defined by the apartheid years. Now we were going into an era of democracy... and I believed that I didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/athol-fugard/my-life-had-been-defined-by-the-apartheid-years-now-we-were-going/) [Athol Fugard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/athol-fugard/) > [Love is the only energy I’ve ever used as a writer. I’ve never written out of anger, although anger has informed love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/athol-fugard/love-is-the-only-energy-i-ve-ever-used-as-a-writer-i-ve-never-written/) [Athol Fugard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/athol-fugard/) > [I've had one experience of writer's block in my life, and it was living hell. It was a terror for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/athol-fugard/i-ve-had-one-experience-of-writer-s-block-in-my-life-and-it-was/) [Athol Fugard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/athol-fugard/) > [The reason I'm in San Diego is not because I want distance from South Africa but because I want proximity to the people I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/athol-fugard/the-reason-i-m-in-san-diego-is-not-because-i-want-distance-from-south/) [Athol Fugard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/athol-fugard/) > [My life had been defined by the apartheid years. Now we were going into an era of democracy... and I believed that I didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/athol-fugard/my-life-had-been-defined-by-the-apartheid-years-now-we-were-going-2/) [Athol Fugard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/athol-fugard/) > [“It's just that life felt the right size in there... not too big and not too small. Wasn't so hard to work up a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/athol-fugard/it-s-just-that-life-felt-the-right-size-in-there-not-too-big-and-not/) [Athol Fugard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/athol-fugard/) > [In South Africa, success never presented the problems that it presents in New York. In New York, if you happen to be the flavor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/athol-fugard/in-south-africa-success-never-presented-the-problems-that-it-presents/) [Athol Fugard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/athol-fugard/) > [Night-time is when I brainstorm; last thing, when the family's asleep and I'm alone, I think about the next day's writing and plan a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/athol-fugard/night-time-is-when-i-brainstorm-last-thing-when-the-family-s-asleep/) [Athol Fugard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/athol-fugard/) > [All of my life had been spent in the shadow of apartheid. And when South Africa went through its extraordinary change in 1994, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/athol-fugard/all-of-my-life-had-been-spent-in-the-shadow-of-apartheid-and-when/) [Athol Fugard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/athol-fugard/) > [“Aman cant spend his life with only one thought”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/athol-fugard/aman-cant-spend-his-life-with-only-one-thought/) [Athol Fugard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/athol-fugard/) > [A very close friend of mine keeps reminding me that since about the age of 50, I've been saying, 'I'm finished. I haven't got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/athol-fugard/a-very-close-friend-of-mine-keeps-reminding-me-that-since-about-the/) [Athol Fugard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/athol-fugard/) > [To know nothing about yourself is to be constantly in danger of nothingness, those voids of non-being over which a man walks the tightrope…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/athol-fugard/to-know-nothing-about-yourself-is-to-be-constantly-in-danger-of/) [Athol Fugard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/athol-fugard/) > [My essential identity is that of a writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/athol-fugard/my-essential-identity-is-that-of-a-writer/) [Athol Fugard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/athol-fugard/) > [For you in the West to hear the phrase 'All men are created equal' is to draw a yawn. For us, it's a miracle.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/athol-fugard/for-you-in-the-west-to-hear-the-phrase-all-men-are-created-equal-is/) [Athol Fugard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/athol-fugard/) > [As fascinated as I was by words on paper, it was matched by my fascination with words in people's mouths. The spoken word. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/athol-fugard/as-fascinated-as-i-was-by-words-on-paper-it-was-matched-by-my/) [Athol Fugard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/athol-fugard/) [Explore all 51 Athol Fugard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/athol-fugard/) ## More Answers quotes > [The one thing that I keep learning over and over again is that I don't know nothing. 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Lecturing to children is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/i-have-long-felt-that-the-way-to-keep-children-out-of-trouble-is-to/) [Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/) > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) > [“As long as you keep searching,the answers will come.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-kynock/as-long-as-you-keep-searching-the-answers-will-come/) [Mitch Kynock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-kynock/) > [The answer to deep anxiety is the deep adoration of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/the-answer-to-deep-anxiety-is-the-deep-adoration-of-god/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [A dialogue is very important. It is a form of communication in which question and answer continue till a question is left without an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/a-dialogue-is-very-important-it-is-a-form-of-communication-in-which/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [There is a comfort in rituals, and rituals provide a framework for stability when you are trying to find answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-norville/there-is-a-comfort-in-rituals-and-rituals-provide-a-framework-for/) [Deborah Norville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-norville/) > [A religious person answers to God, not to the elected or non-elected official.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/a-religious-person-answers-to-god-not-to-the-elected-or-non-elected/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [Let us remember that every worldview-not just Christianity's-must give an explanation or an answer for evil and suffering...this is not just a problem distinctive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/let-us-remember-that-every-worldview-not-just-christianity-s-must/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [Instead of asking a girl how she feels, try looking through her recently listened to songs. The lyrics are the answer to all your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/instead-of-asking-a-girl-how-she-feels-try-looking-through-her/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [For someone to ask 'Who did you play for' and to be able to answer a single name 'Liverpool' that would be brilliant...I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-carragher/for-someone-to-ask-who-did-you-play-for-and-to-be-able-to-answer-a/) [Jamie Carragher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-carragher/) > [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) > [Enjoying life isn't about finding the answers, but living the questions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-margolis/enjoying-life-isn-t-about-finding-the-answers-but-living-the-questions/) [Sue Margolis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-margolis/) Browse all 7,843 Answers quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You can't answer violence with counter violence ... 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