--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We will match your capacity to inflict…" description: "\"“We will match your capacity to inflict suffering with our capacity to endure suffering. We will meet your physical force with Soul Force. We will not ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc2/jack-kornfield-936_ethics_we-will-match-your-capacity-to-inflict-s_393100.jpg" --- # We will match your capacity to inflict suffering with our… ![“We will match your capacity to inflict suffering with our capacity to endure suffering. We will meet your physical force with Soul Force. We will not hate you, but we cannot in all good conscience obey your unjust laws. But we will soon wear you down with our capacity to suffer. And in winning our…” quote by Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc2/jack-kornfield-936_ethics_we-will-match-your-capacity-to-inflict-s_393100.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc2/jack-kornfield-936_ethics_we-will-match-your-capacity-to-inflict-s_393100.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc2/jack-kornfield-936_ethics_we-will-match-your-capacity-to-inflict-s_393100.jpg) > ““We will match your capacity to inflict suffering with our capacity to endure suffering. We will meet your physical force with Soul Force. We will not hate you, but we cannot in all good conscience obey your unjust laws. But we will soon wear you down with our capacity to suffer. And in winning our freedom we will so appeal to your heart and conscience that we will win yours in the process. Martin”” [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker advocates meeting oppression with nonviolent endurance, using suffering as a strategic tool to awaken conscience and achieve freedom. **In simple terms:** Endure suffering to undermine oppressors and win hearts. Key Takeaway Use compassionate resistance to transform conflict. Themes nonviolence resistance conscience strategy Mood determined hopeful Type activist inspirational When to use this quote - social movements - political oppression - activist training - peaceful protest Key Concepts civil disobedience ethical protest psychological warfare Questions to Reflect On - What limits exist for suffering as protest? - How can one sustain endurance without burnout? A Different Perspective Nonviolent suffering may be exploited by oppressors. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ethics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ethics/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) [Unjust laws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unjust-laws/) ## Related quotes > [“we shall match your capacity to inflict suffering by our capacity to endure suffering. We will meet your physical force with soul force. Do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-martin-luther-king-jr-2/we-shall-match-your-capacity-to-inflict-suffering-by-our-capacity-to-2/) Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr > [We shall match your capacity to inflict suffering by our capacity to endure suffering. We will meet your physical force with soul force. Do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/we-shall-match-your-capacity-to-inflict-suffering-by-our-capacity-to/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [It is my hope that as the Negro plunges deeper into the quest for freedom and justice he will plunge even deeper into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-my-hope-that-as-the-negro-plunges-deeper-into-the-quest-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Perhaps it is only human nature to inflict suffering on anything that will endure suffering, whether by reason of its genuine humility, or indifference,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/perhaps-it-is-only-human-nature-to-inflict-suffering-on-anything-that/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [If a superior give any order to one who is under him which is against that man's conscience, although he do not obey it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-of-assisi/if-a-superior-give-any-order-to-one-who-is-under-him-which-is-against/) [Francis of Assisi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-of-assisi/) > [The old law of an eye for an eye leaves everyone blind. It destroys communities and makes humanity impossible. It creates bitterness in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/the-old-law-of-an-eye-for-an-eye-leaves-everyone-blind-it-destroys/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [I would not sell the vital interests of the untouchables for the sake of winning the freedom of India.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-would-not-sell-the-vital-interests-of-the-untouchables-for-the-sake/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [For more than two centuries since winning our own freedom, we the people of the United States have repeatedly answered the call to lead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-thornberry/for-more-than-two-centuries-since-winning-our-own-freedom-we-the/) [Mac Thornberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-thornberry/) > [The Negro revolt is not aimed at winning friends but at winning freedom, not interpersonal warmth but institutional justice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-henry-cox/the-negro-revolt-is-not-aimed-at-winning-friends-but-at-winning/) John Henry Cox > [“For twenty-five years I've been speaking and writing in defense of your right to happiness in this world, condemning your inability to take what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-reich/for-twenty-five-years-i-ve-been-speaking-and-writing-in-defense-of/) [Wilhelm Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-reich/) > [The doctrine of a material hell in its effect was to chill and deaden the sympathies, predispose men to inflict suffering, and to retard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-edward-hartpole-lecky/the-doctrine-of-a-material-hell-in-its-effect-was-to-chill-and-deaden/) [William Edward Hartpole Lecky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-edward-hartpole-lecky/) > [War was never so careful as to inflict suffering only where it was merited.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/war-was-never-so-careful-as-to-inflict-suffering-only-where-it-was/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [When one individual comes into intimate contact with another, she—or he, of course, as the case may be—must almost inevitably receive or inflict suffering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/when-one-individual-comes-into-intimate-contact-with-another-she-or/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [You do not like to suffer yourself. How can you inflict suffering on others?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramana-maharshi/you-do-not-like-to-suffer-yourself-how-can-you-inflict-suffering-on/) [Ramana Maharshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramana-maharshi/) > [I wish we didn't have to own up to a policy deliberately designed to inflict suffering on people who have already been traumatised in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-mackay/i-wish-we-didn-t-have-to-own-up-to-a-policy-deliberately-designed-to/) [Hugh Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-mackay/) ## More by Jack Kornfield > [“When we let go of our battles and open our heart to things as they are, then we come to rest in the present…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/when-we-let-go-of-our-battles-and-open-our-heart-to-things-as-they/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [In opening we can see how many times we have mistaken small identities and fearful beliefs for our true nature and how limiting this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/in-opening-we-can-see-how-many-times-we-have-mistaken-small/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [Wherever you are is the perfect place to awaken. This moment is the exact place to practice compassion and loving awareness. You have all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/wherever-you-are-is-the-perfect-place-to-awaken-this-moment-is-the/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [Acceptance does not mean inaction. We may need to respond, strongly at times...From a peaceful center we can respond instead of react. Unconscious reactions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/acceptance-does-not-mean-inaction-we-may-need-to-respond-strongly-at/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [To live in this precious animal body on this earth is as great a part of spiritual life as anything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/to-live-in-this-precious-animal-body-on-this-earth-is-as-great-a-part/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [We do not have to improve ourselves; we just have to let go of what blocks our heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/we-do-not-have-to-improve-ourselves-we-just-have-to-let-go-of-what/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [To open deeply, as genuine spiritual life requires, we need tremendous courage and strength, a kind of warrior spirit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/to-open-deeply-as-genuine-spiritual-life-requires-we-need-tremendous/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [As we step out of the way new things are born.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/as-we-step-out-of-the-way-new-things-are-born/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [For most of us, generosity is a quality that must be developed. We have to respect that it will grow gradually; otherwise our spirituality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/for-most-of-us-generosity-is-a-quality-that-must-be-developed-we-have/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [What is truly a part of our spiritual path is that which brings us alive. If gardening brings us alive, that is part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/what-is-truly-a-part-of-our-spiritual-path-is-that-which-brings-us/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [“Working with these distractions, steadying the canoe, letting the waves pass by, and coming back again and again in a quiet and collected way,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/working-with-these-distractions-steadying-the-canoe-letting-the-waves/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [To understand ourselves and our life is the point of insight meditation: to understand and to be free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/to-understand-ourselves-and-our-life-is-the-point-of-insight/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [To let go in the deepest recesses of the heart, to release all struggle and wanting, leads us to that knowing which is timeless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/to-let-go-in-the-deepest-recesses-of-the-heart-to-release-all/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [Wisdom says we are nothing. Love says we are everything. Between these two our life flows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/wisdom-says-we-are-nothing-love-says-we-are-everything-between-these/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [Breathing meditation can quiet the mind, open the body, and develop a great power of concentration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/breathing-meditation-can-quiet-the-mind-open-the-body-and-develop-a/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) [Explore all 324 Jack Kornfield quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) ## More Ethics quotes > [Self-respect and a clear conscience are powerful components of integrity and are the basis for enriching your relationships with others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/self-respect-and-a-clear-conscience-are-powerful-components-of/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [“Knowledge without conscience is but the ruin of the soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabelaise/knowledge-without-conscience-is-but-the-ruin-of-the-soul/) Rabelaise > [He who mistrusts most should be trusted least.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theognis-of-megara/he-who-mistrusts-most-should-be-trusted-least/) [Theognis of Megara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theognis-of-megara/) > [Writing adds up to the conscience of our times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-firrell/writing-adds-up-to-the-conscience-of-our-times/) [Martin Firrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-firrell/) > [Ethics is the activity of man directed to secure the inner perfection of his own personality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/ethics-is-the-activity-of-man-directed-to-secure-the-inner-perfection/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [My conscience is really active. So I feel bad about spending excess amount of money on things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/syd/my-conscience-is-really-active-so-i-feel-bad-about-spending-excess/) [Syd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/syd/) > [Records, radio, television, movies, magazines-all are monopolized by the money managers who are guided by one ethic, the words wealth and power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/records-radio-television-movies-magazines-all-are-monopolized-by-the/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [Let us be thankful for health and competence, and, above all, for a quiet conscience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/izaak-walton/let-us-be-thankful-for-health-and-competence-and-above-all-for-a/) [Izaak Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/izaak-walton/) > [Making money doesn't oblige people to forfeit their honor or their conscience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-de-rothschild/making-money-doesn-t-oblige-people-to-forfeit-their-honor-or-their/) [Guy de Rothschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-de-rothschild/) > [“If we cannot be happy and powerful and prey on others, we invent conscience and prey on ourselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/if-we-cannot-be-happy-and-powerful-and-prey-on-others-we-invent/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [There is no perfect justice, just as there is no absolute in ethics. But there is perfect injustice, and we know it when we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dershowitz/there-is-no-perfect-justice-just-as-there-is-no-absolute-in-ethics/) [Alan Dershowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dershowitz/) > [I think the ethics and morals of genetic engineering are very complicated. It intrigues me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-spottiswoode/i-think-the-ethics-and-morals-of-genetic-engineering-are-very/) [Roger Spottiswoode](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-spottiswoode/) > [What our species needs, above all else, is a generally accepted ethical system that is compatible with the scientific knowledge we now possess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-our-species-needs-above-all-else-is-a-generally-accepted-ethical/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Ethics is not definable, is not implementable, because it is not conscious; it involves not only our thinking, but also our feeling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valdemar-w-setzer/ethics-is-not-definable-is-not-implementable-because-it-is-not/) Valdemar W Setzer > [Any time you give a man something he doesn't earn, you cheapen him. Our kids earn what they get, and that includes respect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-hayes/any-time-you-give-a-man-something-he-doesn-t-earn-you-cheapen-him-our/) [Woody Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-hayes/) [Browse all 4,548 Ethics quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ethics/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“We will match your capacity to inflict suffering with our capacity to endure suffering. We will meet your physical force with Soul Force. We will not hate you, but we cannot in all good conscience obey your unjust laws. But we will soon wear you down with our capacity to suffer. And in winning our freedom we will so appeal to your heart and conscience that we will win yours in the process. 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