--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Nonviolence means to forego the desire to…" description: "\"“Nonviolence means to forego the desire to win and to avoid the defeat of enemies, which always includes their humiliation. The issues of peace, justic..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b4/dorothee-soelle-19207_desire-to-win_nonviolence-means-to-forego-the-desire-t_1120601.jpg" --- # Nonviolence means to forego the desire to win and to avoid… ![“Nonviolence means to forego the desire to win and to avoid the defeat of enemies, which always includes their humiliation. The issues of peace, justice, and - as must he added today - creation are always the enemies' issues as well; they, too, need air to breathe. Their issue is also ours. Every…” quote by Dorothee Soelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b4/dorothee-soelle-19207_desire-to-win_nonviolence-means-to-forego-the-desire-t_1120601.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b4/dorothee-soelle-19207_desire-to-win_nonviolence-means-to-forego-the-desire-t_1120601.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b4/dorothee-soelle-19207_desire-to-win_nonviolence-means-to-forego-the-desire-t_1120601.jpg) > ““Nonviolence means to forego the desire to win and to avoid the defeat of enemies, which always includes their humiliation. The issues of peace, justice, and - as must he added today - creation are always the enemies' issues as well; they, too, need air to breathe. Their issue is also ours. Every form of the spirit of hostility has to he rejected. (Martin Luther) King called white racists "our sick white brothers," which angered some of his comrades in the struggle.”” [Dorothee Soelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothee-soelle/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True nonviolence requires abandoning the desire to dominate and recognizing that others’ needs are our own, rejecting all hostility. **In simple terms:** Nonviolence means letting go of winning and seeing others’ wellbeing as yours. Key Takeaway Embrace empathy and reject hostility. Themes peace justice nonviolence empathy humanity Mood hopeful determined reflective Type inspirational ethical When to use this quote - community building - peace activism - mediation - social work Key Concepts interdependence ethical responsibility conflict resolution Questions to Reflect On - How can you transform personal resentment into shared compassion? - What structures prevent genuine empathy? A Different Perspective Nonviolence can be challenged by deep‑seated anger and systemic oppression. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Desire to win](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire-to-win/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Hostility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hostility/) [Nonviolence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nonviolence/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Peacebuilding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peacebuilding/) [Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism/) ## Related quotes > [On Thanksgiving Night, 1942, when I was fifteen years old, white racists burned our house to the ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coretta-scott-king/on-thanksgiving-night-1942-when-i-was-fifteen-years-old-white-racists/) [Coretta Scott King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coretta-scott-king/) > [If one black man aided by a bevy of good, decent, dedicated, and open liberal-minded whites and Jews can succeed in prevailing over a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-stallworth/if-one-black-man-aided-by-a-bevy-of-good-decent-dedicated-and-open/) [Ron Stallworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-stallworth/) > [Jim Crow laws stripped blacks of basic rights. Despite landmark civil rights laws, many public schools were still segregated, blacks still faced barriers to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-beckel/jim-crow-laws-stripped-blacks-of-basic-rights-despite-landmark-civil/) [Bob Beckel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-beckel/) > [In short, Europe’s colonization of Africa had nothing to do with differences between European and African peoples themselves, as white racists assume. Rather, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-diamond/in-short-europe-s-colonization-of-africa-had-nothing-to-do-with/) [Jared Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-diamond/) > [The greatest problem is not with flat-out white racists, but rather with the far larger number of Americans who believe intellectually in racial equality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-kristof/the-greatest-problem-is-not-with-flat-out-white-racists-but-rather/) [Nicholas Kristof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-kristof/) > [“violence only makes a situation worse. It cannot help but provoke a violent response. Strictly speaking, satyagraha is not “nonviolence.” It is a means,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eknath-easwaran/violence-only-makes-a-situation-worse-it-cannot-help-but-provoke-a/) [Eknath Easwaran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eknath-easwaran/) > [Nonviolence is the means, the end for everyone is complete independence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/nonviolence-is-the-means-the-end-for-everyone-is-complete-independence/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Appreciation of nonviolence means patient research and still more patient and difficult practice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/appreciation-of-nonviolence-means-patient-research-and-still-more/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Nonviolence means an ocean of compassion. It means shedding from us every trace of ill will for others. It does not mean abjectness or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/nonviolence-means-an-ocean-of-compassion-it-means-shedding-from-us/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [The students I've been with these twenty years are looking for a world where it becomes a little easier to love and a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colman-mccarthy/the-students-i-ve-been-with-these-twenty-years-are-looking-for-a/) [Colman McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colman-mccarthy/) > [I think that nonviolence is one way of saying that there are other ways to solve problems, not only through weapons and war. Nonviolence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rigoberta-menchu/i-think-that-nonviolence-is-one-way-of-saying-that-there-are-other/) [Rigoberta Menchu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rigoberta-menchu/) > [Truth and nonviolence are both the means and the end, and given the right type of men, the legislatures can be the means of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/truth-and-nonviolence-are-both-the-means-and-the-end-and-given-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Nonviolence means avoiding not only external physical violence but also internal violence of spirit. You not only refuse to shoot a man, but you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/nonviolence-means-avoiding-not-only-external-physical-violence-but/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [I've always got a desire to win - I believe I'm a winner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naby-keita/i-ve-always-got-a-desire-to-win-i-believe-i-m-a-winner/) [Naby Keita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naby-keita/) > [If a Coach is determined to stay in the coaching profession, he will develop from year to year. This much is true, no coach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolph-rupp/if-a-coach-is-determined-to-stay-in-the-coaching-profession-he-will/) [Adolph Rupp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolph-rupp/) ## More by Dorothee Soelle > [“What do ego-lessness and becoming unattached mean in connection with today's mystical way in the form of resistance? . . . What is missing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothee-soelle/what-do-ego-lessness-and-becoming-unattached-mean-in-connection-with/) [Dorothee Soelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothee-soelle/) > [“If we had possessions, Francis would say, we would also need weapons. He held on to the inescapable link of poverty and peace.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothee-soelle/if-we-had-possessions-francis-would-say-we-would-also-need-weapons-he/) [Dorothee Soelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothee-soelle/) > [“All mysticism is part of the endeavor to escape from this fate of language that serves the exercise of power, control, and possession. Traditional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothee-soelle/all-mysticism-is-part-of-the-endeavor-to-escape-from-this-fate-of/) [Dorothee Soelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothee-soelle/) > [“This situation where we are not quite what we do, where we kiss, drink, work, laugh, or meditate only with part of ourselves, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothee-soelle/this-situation-where-we-are-not-quite-what-we-do-where-we-kiss-drink/) [Dorothee Soelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothee-soelle/) > [“One of the oldest longings of all people of mystical sensibility is to be rid of disguises to the point of becoming naked.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothee-soelle/one-of-the-oldest-longings-of-all-people-of-mystical-sensibility-is/) [Dorothee Soelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothee-soelle/) > [“In monotheistic patriarchal perception, a miracle is an external intervention that suspends the laws of nature. God's rule over nature, the body, time, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothee-soelle/in-monotheistic-patriarchal-perception-a-miracle-is-an-external/) [Dorothee Soelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothee-soelle/) > [“The story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 1o) can he interpreted mystically in such a way that the question of the knowledge of God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothee-soelle/the-story-of-the-good-samaritan-luke-1o-can-he-interpreted-mystically/) [Dorothee Soelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothee-soelle/) > [“There are thousands who are in opinion opposed to slavery and to war, who yet in effect do nothing to put an end to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothee-soelle/there-are-thousands-who-are-in-opinion-opposed-to-slavery-and-to-war/) [Dorothee Soelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothee-soelle/) > [“In such mysticism of prayer, the relationship of domination between God and humans has been transformed into one of love. That is precisely the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothee-soelle/in-such-mysticism-of-prayer-the-relationship-of-domination-between/) [Dorothee Soelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothee-soelle/) > [“Matthew Fox who, particularly in his new reading of Meister Eckhart, depicts quite early in human history the mystical way of creation spirituality. Fox's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothee-soelle/matthew-fox-who-particularly-in-his-new-reading-of-meister-eckhart/) [Dorothee Soelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothee-soelle/) > [“To he "over-choiced" with thirty different kinds of bread does indeed develop the shopper's awareness of differentiation and sense of taste. However, from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothee-soelle/to-he-over-choiced-with-thirty-different-kinds-of-bread-does-indeed/) [Dorothee Soelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothee-soelle/) > [“The desire to possess is marked by an unceasingly growing, voracious element that manifests itself in the simple desire to have more, but also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothee-soelle/the-desire-to-possess-is-marked-by-an-unceasingly-growing-voracious/) [Dorothee Soelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothee-soelle/) > [“When he was twenty-three years old, he (George Fox) saw the inner light in a vision. For him it symbolized the spirit against the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothee-soelle/when-he-was-twenty-three-years-old-he-george-fox-saw-the-inner-light/) [Dorothee Soelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothee-soelle/) > [“In cultures where asceticism developed and was practiced, people knew that one can suffocate when every option is a readily available one. Without self-limitation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothee-soelle/in-cultures-where-asceticism-developed-and-was-practiced-people-knew/) [Dorothee Soelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothee-soelle/) > [“Among the first questions a native mother asks her child in the morning is: what did you dream? When I heard this for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothee-soelle/among-the-first-questions-a-native-mother-asks-her-child-in-the/) [Dorothee Soelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothee-soelle/) [Explore all 33 Dorothee Soelle quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothee-soelle/) ## More Desire to win quotes > [If a Coach is determined to stay in the coaching profession, he will develop from year to year. This much is true, no coach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolph-rupp/if-a-coach-is-determined-to-stay-in-the-coaching-profession-he-will/) [Adolph Rupp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolph-rupp/) > [I've always got a desire to win - I believe I'm a winner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naby-keita/i-ve-always-got-a-desire-to-win-i-believe-i-m-a-winner/) [Naby Keita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naby-keita/) > [I play over-35s soccer on the weekend to get my fix of running into people and crashing and bashing, and I still have that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-goodes/i-play-over-35s-soccer-on-the-weekend-to-get-my-fix-of-running-into/) [Adam Goodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-goodes/) > [I have a huge desire to win. That is why I am aggressive in a positive sense on the field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naby-keita/i-have-a-huge-desire-to-win-that-is-why-i-am-aggressive-in-a-positive/) [Naby Keita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naby-keita/) > [People without visions, hopes, dreams, ambition, or desire to win will go out of their WAY to kill yours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rohit/people-without-visions-hopes-dreams-ambition-or-desire-to-win-will-go/) [Rohit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rohit/) > [“I didn’t realize that there would always be something influencing my decisions and weighing in on my life. At this moment weed was calling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-heil/i-didn-t-realize-that-there-would-always-be-something-influencing-my/) [Michael J Heil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-heil/) > [Vanity is apt to inspire contempt, but that becomes immediately tempered by a gentler and more gracious feeling; for the vain man desires to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-alfred-lynch/vanity-is-apt-to-inspire-contempt-but-that-becomes-immediately/) [Arthur Alfred Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-alfred-lynch/) > [If there's one thing this team doesn't lack, it's competitiveness and a desire to win. No matter if we come off a win or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-rapinoe/if-there-s-one-thing-this-team-doesn-t-lack-it-s-competitiveness-and/) [Megan Rapinoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-rapinoe/) > [The fear of losing is always there, but you mustn't let that fear dull your desire to win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thiago-silva/the-fear-of-losing-is-always-there-but-you-mustn-t-let-that-fear-dull/) [Thiago Silva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thiago-silva/) > [What got me to where I am today is a hunger and a desire to win tournaments, and all the trappings that came with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-rose/what-got-me-to-where-i-am-today-is-a-hunger-and-a-desire-to-win/) [Justin Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-rose/) > [The desire to win is born in most of us. The will to win is a matter of training. The manner of winning is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/the-desire-to-win-is-born-in-most-of-us-the-will-to-win-is-a-matter/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) > [I like to show my ability on the field. I'm not one to show off with words. I'm really looking forward to the chance.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alisson/i-like-to-show-my-ability-on-the-field-i-m-not-one-to-show-off-with/) [Alisson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alisson/) > [The preparation, commitment and desire to win will be no less than the last time I drove a grand prix car in anger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-mansell/the-preparation-commitment-and-desire-to-win-will-be-no-less-than-the/) [Nigel Mansell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-mansell/) > [I've always been very competitive, and I've always had this desire to win my entire life. I guess when it comes to being in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paige-vanzant/i-ve-always-been-very-competitive-and-i-ve-always-had-this-desire-to/) [Paige VanZant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paige-vanzant/) > [It's all a desire to win - to win the next game, to win the next practice, to win the next day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jae-crowder/it-s-all-a-desire-to-win-to-win-the-next-game-to-win-the-next/) [Jae Crowder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jae-crowder/) [Browse all 58 Desire to win quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire-to-win/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Nonviolence means to forego the desire to win and to avoid the defeat of enemies, which always includes their humiliation. The issues of peace, justice, and - as must he added today - creation are always the enemies' issues as well; they, too, need air to breathe. Their issue is also ours. 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