--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We don’t think you fight fire with fire…" description: "\"“We don’t think you fight fire with fire best ; we think you fight fire with water best. We’re going to fight racism not with racism, but we’re going t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c7/fred-hampton-15877_anti-capitalism_we-don-t-think-you-fight-fire-with-fire_1441174.jpg" --- # We don’t think you fight fire with fire best ; we think… ![“We don’t think you fight fire with fire best ; we think you fight fire with water best. We’re going to fight racism not with racism, but we’re going to fight with solidarity. We say we’re not going to fight capitalism with black capitalism, but we’re going to fight it with socialism. We’re stood…” quote by Fred Hampton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c7/fred-hampton-15877_anti-capitalism_we-don-t-think-you-fight-fire-with-fire_1441174.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c7/fred-hampton-15877_anti-capitalism_we-don-t-think-you-fight-fire-with-fire_1441174.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c7/fred-hampton-15877_anti-capitalism_we-don-t-think-you-fight-fire-with-fire_1441174.jpg) > ““We don’t think you fight fire with fire best ; we think you fight fire with water best. We’re going to fight racism not with racism, but we’re going to fight with solidarity. We say we’re not going to fight capitalism with black capitalism, but we’re going to fight it with socialism. We’re stood up and said we’re not going to fight reactionary pigs and reactionary state’s attorneys like this and reactionary state’s attorneys like Hanrahan with any other reactions on our part. We’re going to fight their reactions with all of us people getting together and having an international proletarian revolution.”” [Fred Hampton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-hampton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advocates confronting oppression with constructive, collective alternatives rather than mirroring the tactics of the oppressor. **In simple terms:** Fight injustice with solidarity and systemic change. Key Takeaway Choose constructive resistance. Themes solidarity nonviolence systemic change collective action Mood determined hopeful defiant Type political activist inspirational When to use this quote - community organizing - political activism - social movements - education campaigns Key Concepts socialism proletarian revolution anti‑racism Questions to Reflect On - How can we sustain solidarity under repression? - What alternatives exist when systemic change seems impossible? A Different Perspective Nonviolent approaches may be dismissed or suppressed by entrenched powers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anti capitalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anti-capitalism/) [Anti racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anti-racism/) [Black panther party](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-panther-party/) [Black-panthers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-panthers-20932/) [Capitalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capitalism/) [Fight Capitalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fight-capitalism-846744/) [Fight Solidarity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fight-solidarity-928948/) [Fire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fire/) [Pigs Reactionary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pigs-reactionary-5157105/) [Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism/) [Socialism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/socialism/) [Solidarity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solidarity/) [Solidarity Say](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solidarity-say-1450538/) [Water Best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/water-best/) ## Related quotes > [Were going to fight racism not with racism, but were going to fight with solidarity. We say were not going to fight capitalism with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-hampton/were-going-to-fight-racism-not-with-racism-but-were-going-to-fight/) [Fred Hampton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-hampton/) > [We're going to fight racism not with racism, but we're going to fight with solidarity. We say we're not going to fight capitalism with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-hampton/we-re-going-to-fight-racism-not-with-racism-but-we-re-going-to-fight/) [Fred Hampton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-hampton/) > [We got to face some facts. That the masses are poor, that the masses belong to what you call the lower class, and when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-hampton/we-got-to-face-some-facts-that-the-masses-are-poor-that-the-masses/) [Fred Hampton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-hampton/) > [You don’t fight fire with fire. You fight fire with water. We’re gonna fight racism with solidarity. We're not gonna fight capitalism with Black…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-hampton/you-don-t-fight-fire-with-fire-you-fight-fire-with-water-we-re-gonna/) [Fred Hampton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-hampton/) > [The Black Panther Party stood up and said that we don't care what anybody says. We don't think fighting fire with fire is best;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-hampton/the-black-panther-party-stood-up-and-said-that-we-don-t-care-what/) [Fred Hampton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-hampton/) > [“A friend once told me a story about a former Black Panther leader in a Midwest community who in the 1960s had his phone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-j-rodr-guez/a-friend-once-told-me-a-story-about-a-former-black-panther-leader-in/) [Luis J. Rodríguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-j-rodr-guez/) > [“On Slavery: The saddest slap in the face is we have NO monument, no real statues or memorials, no special day of Atonement or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandi-l-bates/on-slavery-the-saddest-slap-in-the-face-is-we-have-no-monument-no/) [Brandi L. Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandi-l-bates/) > [“The best thing, and the most important thing the labor movement cannot do without, and must have and fight to keep, is solidarity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-brandt/the-best-thing-and-the-most-important-thing-the-labor-movement-cannot/) [Charles Brandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-brandt/) > [When I see that people are touched, and they feel solidarity with him, I say to myself, "I made a little change."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mano-khalil/when-i-see-that-people-are-touched-and-they-feel-solidarity-with-him/) [Mano Khalil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mano-khalil/) > [Pure water is the best of gifts that man to man can bring, But who am I that I should have the best of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/pure-water-is-the-best-of-gifts-that-man-to-man-can-bring-but-who-am/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Just one thing gives me hope, and that is the steady trickle of emails I receive on the subject from children, ecstatic with delight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-goldacre/just-one-thing-gives-me-hope-and-that-is-the-steady-trickle-of-emails/) [Ben Goldacre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-goldacre/) > [I was thinking how strange it is that water is one of the best, simplest things on this planet, and still with a simple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetri-martin/i-was-thinking-how-strange-it-is-that-water-is-one-of-the-best/) [Demetri Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetri-martin/) > [“And times there are when you feel very wise and ageless. You are sunning on the rocks, the water splashing at your feet, when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/and-times-there-are-when-you-feel-very-wise-and-ageless-you-are/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [Water is the best of all things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pindar/water-is-the-best-of-all-things/) [Pindar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pindar/) > [Water is the best friend to an actor; you have to stay hydrated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-faist/water-is-the-best-friend-to-an-actor-you-have-to-stay-hydrated/) [Mike Faist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-faist/) ## More by Fred Hampton > [I believe I'm going to die doing the things I was born to do. I believe I'm going to die high off the people.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-hampton/i-believe-i-m-going-to-die-doing-the-things-i-was-born-to-do-i/) [Fred Hampton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-hampton/) > [I went down to the prison in Menard, thinking we were the vanguard, but down there, I got down on my knees and listened…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-hampton/i-went-down-to-the-prison-in-menard-thinking-we-were-the-vanguard-but/) [Fred Hampton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-hampton/) > [Were going to fight racism not with racism, but were going to fight with solidarity. We say were not going to fight capitalism with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-hampton/were-going-to-fight-racism-not-with-racism-but-were-going-to-fight/) [Fred Hampton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-hampton/) > [The people have to have the power: it belongs to the people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-hampton/the-people-have-to-have-the-power-it-belongs-to-the-people/) [Fred Hampton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-hampton/) > [I have a lot of respect for Martin Luther King. I think he was one of the greatest orators that the country ever produced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-hampton/i-have-a-lot-of-respect-for-martin-luther-king-i-think-he-was-one-of/) [Fred Hampton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-hampton/) > [You're gonna have to keep on saying that - I am the proletariat, I am the people. I am not the pig. You've got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-hampton/you-re-gonna-have-to-keep-on-saying-that-i-am-the-proletariat-i-am/) [Fred Hampton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-hampton/) > [We say that we will work with anybody and form a coalition with anybody that has revolution on their mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-hampton/we-say-that-we-will-work-with-anybody-and-form-a-coalition-with/) [Fred Hampton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-hampton/) > [We do not support people who are anarchistic, opportunistic, adventuristic, and Custeristic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-hampton/we-do-not-support-people-who-are-anarchistic-opportunistic/) [Fred Hampton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-hampton/) > [We're going to fight racism not with racism, but we're going to fight with solidarity. We say we're not going to fight capitalism with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-hampton/we-re-going-to-fight-racism-not-with-racism-but-we-re-going-to-fight/) [Fred Hampton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-hampton/) > [We got to face some facts. That the masses are poor, that the masses belong to what you call the lower class, and when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-hampton/we-got-to-face-some-facts-that-the-masses-are-poor-that-the-masses/) [Fred Hampton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-hampton/) > [We say primarily that the priority of this struggle is class. That Marx and Lenin and Che Guevara and Mao Tse-Tung, and anybody else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-hampton/we-say-primarily-that-the-priority-of-this-struggle-is-class-that/) [Fred Hampton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-hampton/) > [“...you can jail revolutionaries, but you can’t jail the revolution. You might run a liberator like Eldridge Cleaver out of the country, but you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-hampton/you-can-jail-revolutionaries-but-you-can-t-jail-the-revolution-you/) [Fred Hampton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-hampton/) > [I'm not going to die slipping on no ice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-hampton/i-m-not-going-to-die-slipping-on-no-ice/) [Fred Hampton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-hampton/) > [We ain't gonna fight no reactionary pigs who run up and down the street being reactionary; we're gonna organize and dedicate ourselves to revolutionary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-hampton/we-ain-t-gonna-fight-no-reactionary-pigs-who-run-up-and-down-the/) [Fred Hampton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-hampton/) > [With no education, you have neocolonialism instead of colonialism, like you've got in Africa now and like you've got in Haiti. So what we're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-hampton/with-no-education-you-have-neocolonialism-instead-of-colonialism-like/) [Fred Hampton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-hampton/) [Explore all 41 Fred Hampton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-hampton/) ## More Anti capitalism quotes > [“Have you ever played Monopoly? It's a board game designed to teach kids capitalism. And what happens in the end? The winner has all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-markus-malloy/have-you-ever-played-monopoly-it-s-a-board-game-designed-to-teach/) [Oliver Markus Malloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-markus-malloy/) > [“If you think of yourself as a follower of Christ’s teachings, if you consider yourself a good person, you are morally obligated to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-markus-malloy/if-you-think-of-yourself-as-a-follower-of-christ-s-teachings-if-you/) [Oliver Markus Malloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-markus-malloy/) > [I'm just wondering, folks, if I gave a speech on anti-capitalism, do you think I could be named Person of the Year by 'TIME…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/i-m-just-wondering-folks-if-i-gave-a-speech-on-anti-capitalism-do-you/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [“The struggle is lost from the beginning, long before the victorious party or army conquers state power and ‘betrays’ its promises. It is lost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-holloway/the-struggle-is-lost-from-the-beginning-long-before-the-victorious/) [John Holloway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-holloway/) > [“any form of expression that ceases to be an experience and becomes an art form loses its glowing divinity”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-m-sekimonyo/any-form-of-expression-that-ceases-to-be-an-experience-and-becomes-an/) [Jo M. Sekimonyo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-m-sekimonyo/) > [“There are times when you'd give a whole month away for fifty kopecks, and others when you wouldn't give up half an hour for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/there-are-times-when-you-d-give-a-whole-month-away-for-fifty-kopecks/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Our world today is in the grip of anti-capitalism. State bureaucracies ruling over anti-market policies have grown into ideological and political elites who arrogantly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ebeling/our-world-today-is-in-the-grip-of-anti-capitalism-state-bureaucracies/) [Richard Ebeling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ebeling/) > [“Comradeship, dignity, amorosity, love, solidarity, fraternity, friendship, ethics: all these names stand in contrast to the commodified, monetised relations of capitalism, all describe relations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-holloway/comradeship-dignity-amorosity-love-solidarity-fraternity-friendship/) [John Holloway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-holloway/) > [The end of capitalism is the end of modern day slavery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-limn/the-end-of-capitalism-is-the-end-of-modern-day-slavery/) [Jeremy Limn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-limn/) > [One of the problems with traditional anti-capitalist thought is that it defines capitalism as a totality, which encourages us to imagine another totality, socialism,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-kauffman/one-of-the-problems-with-traditional-anti-capitalist-thought-is-that/) [Cynthia Kauffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-kauffman/) > [Anti-capitalism is nothing new in Hollywood. From 'Wall-E' to 'Avatar,' corporations are routinely depicted as evil. The contradiction of corporate-funded films denouncing corporations is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-fisher/anti-capitalism-is-nothing-new-in-hollywood-from-wall-e-to-avatar/) [Mark Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-fisher/) > [“Only by remembering to say 'no' will the women of 21st century regain their voice and remember their power. 'No' is the most important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-penny/only-by-remembering-to-say-no-will-the-women-of-21st-century-regain/) [Laurie Penny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-penny/) [Browse all 13 Anti capitalism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anti-capitalism/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“We don’t think you fight fire with fire best ; we think you fight fire with water best. We’re going to fight racism not with racism, but we’re going to fight with solidarity. 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