--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A nonviolent action accompanied by…" description: "\"A nonviolent action accompanied by nonviolence in thought and word should never produce enduring violent reaction upon the opponent.\" — Mahatma Gandhi" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41a/mahatma-gandhi-23_action_a-nonviolent-action-accompanied-by-nonvi_2584294.jpg" --- # A nonviolent action accompanied by nonviolence in thought… ![“A nonviolent action accompanied by nonviolence in thought and word should never produce enduring violent reaction upon the opponent.” quote by Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41a/mahatma-gandhi-23_action_a-nonviolent-action-accompanied-by-nonvi_2584294.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41a/mahatma-gandhi-23_action_a-nonviolent-action-accompanied-by-nonvi_2584294.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41a/mahatma-gandhi-23_action_a-nonviolent-action-accompanied-by-nonvi_2584294.jpg) > “A nonviolent action accompanied by nonviolence in thought and word should never produce enduring violent reaction upon the opponent.” [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) ## 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 both peaceful actions and thoughts, preventing retaliation from the opponent. **In simple terms:** Nonviolence in deed and mind avoids violent backlash. Key Takeaway Cultivate inner and outer nonviolence. Themes peace nonviolence ethics conflict resolution Mood hopeful serious Type ethical inspirational When to use this quote - political protest - community activism - personal relationships Key Concepts moral philosophy social change psychology of aggression Questions to Reflect On - Can nonviolence be effective against violent oppression? - What safeguards prevent escalation? A Different Perspective Nonviolent actions can be misinterpreted as weakness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accompanied Nonviolence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accompanied-nonviolence-1804255/) [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Endure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/endure/) [Nonviolence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nonviolence/) [Nonviolence Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nonviolence-thought-1804254/) [Nonviolent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nonviolent/) [Nonviolent Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nonviolent-action-1363272/) [Opponents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opponents/) [Peacebuilding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peacebuilding/) [Produce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/produce/) [Reactions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reactions/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Thoughts and words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thoughts-and-words/) [Violent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violent/) ## Related quotes > [Nonviolent action means mobilization of world opinion in our favour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/nonviolent-action-means-mobilization-of-world-opinion-in-our-favour/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Nonviolent action without the co-operation of the heart and the head cannot produce the intended result.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/nonviolent-action-without-the-co-operation-of-the-heart-and-the-head/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Ours has not been unadulterated nonviolence in thought, word and deed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/ours-has-not-been-unadulterated-nonviolence-in-thought-word-and-deed/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [What can be richer and more fruitful than a greater fulfillment of the vow of nonviolence in thought, word and deed or the spread…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/what-can-be-richer-and-more-fruitful-than-a-greater-fulfillment-of/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Nonviolent action, born of the awareness of suffering and nurtured by love, is the most effective way to confront adversity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/nonviolent-action-born-of-the-awareness-of-suffering-and-nurtured-by/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The first principal of nonviolent action is that of noncooperation with everything humiliating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-chavez/the-first-principal-of-nonviolent-action-is-that-of-noncooperation/) [Cesar Chavez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-chavez/) > [The first essential characteristics of nonviolent action is that it is creative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hildegard-goss-mayr/the-first-essential-characteristics-of-nonviolent-action-is-that-it/) [Hildegard Goss-Mayr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hildegard-goss-mayr/) > [Nonviolent action involves opposing the opponent's power, including his police and military capacity, not with the weapons chosen by him but by quite different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-sharp/nonviolent-action-involves-opposing-the-opponent-s-power-including/) [Gene Sharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-sharp/) > [“Nonviolent action on behalf of justice is no automatic forumla with promise of success: but neither is war. After all, at least half of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/nonviolent-action-on-behalf-of-justice-is-no-automatic-forumla-with/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Nonviolent action, the Negro saw, was the way to supplement, not replace, the progress of change. It was the way to divest himself of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/nonviolent-action-the-negro-saw-was-the-way-to-supplement-not-replace/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [“The maintenance of high standards of behavior in nonviolent action is necessary at all stages of the conflict.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-sharp/the-maintenance-of-high-standards-of-behavior-in-nonviolent-action-is/) [Gene Sharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-sharp/) > [Time and time again we forget all too easily that nonviolent action embraces a wide and imaginative range of behavior which can always be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/petra-kelly/time-and-time-again-we-forget-all-too-easily-that-nonviolent-action/) [Petra Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/petra-kelly/) > [Nonviolent action does not have to get others to be nice. It can in effect force them to consult their consciences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-deming/nonviolent-action-does-not-have-to-get-others-to-be-nice-it-can-in/) [Barbara Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-deming/) > [Himsa does not need to be taught, Man as animal is violent, but as spirit is nonviolent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/himsa-does-not-need-to-be-taught-man-as-animal-is-violent-but-as/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [The nation cannot be kept on the nonviolent path by violence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/the-nation-cannot-be-kept-on-the-nonviolent-path-by-violence/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) ## More by Mahatma Gandhi > [I do not want to live at the cost of the life even of a snake. I should let him bite me to death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-do-not-want-to-live-at-the-cost-of-the-life-even-of-a-snake-i/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Devotion required by the Gita is no soft-hearted effusiveness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/devotion-required-by-the-gita-is-no-soft-hearted-effusiveness/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [No nation being under another nation can accept gifts, and kick at the responsibility attached to those gifts, imposed by the conquering nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/no-nation-being-under-another-nation-can-accept-gifts-and-kick-at-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [So long as we fear the outside world, we must cease to think of Swaraj.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/so-long-as-we-fear-the-outside-world-we-must-cease-to-think-of-swaraj/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [I do not want a kingdom, or heaven; what I want is to remove the trouble of the oppressed, the poor, and the needy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-do-not-want-a-kingdom-or-heaven-what-i-want-is-to-remove-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Religions are not for separating men from one another, they are meant to bind them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/religions-are-not-for-separating-men-from-one-another-they-are-meant/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [I hold flesh-food to be unsuited to our species. We err in copying the lower animal world if we are superior to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-hold-flesh-food-to-be-unsuited-to-our-species-we-err-in-copying-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [“It was only in South Africa that I got over this shyness, though I never completely overcame it. It was impossible for me to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/it-was-only-in-south-africa-that-i-got-over-this-shyness-though-i/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [“Where there is life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/where-there-is-life/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [If it was wrong to seek God in a stone, how was it right to seek Him in a book called the Gita, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/if-it-was-wrong-to-seek-god-in-a-stone-how-was-it-right-to-seek-him/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [The spirit of democracy cannot be established in the midst of terrorism, whether governmental or popular.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/the-spirit-of-democracy-cannot-be-established-in-the-midst-of/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Champions are made from something they have deep inside of them-a desire, a dream, a vison.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/champions-are-made-from-something-they-have-deep-inside-of-them-a/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [My motto is "Unite now, today if you can; fight if you must. But in every case avoid British intervention."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/my-motto-is-unite-now-today-if-you-can-fight-if-you-must-but-in-every/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [I have no disciples, being myself an aspirant after discipleship and in search of a guru.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-have-no-disciples-being-myself-an-aspirant-after-discipleship-and/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Man becomes not the lord and master of all creation but he is its servant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/man-becomes-not-the-lord-and-master-of-all-creation-but-he-is-its/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) [Explore all 3,284 Mahatma Gandhi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) ## More Action quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [Every thought I have imprisioned in expression I must free by my deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/every-thought-i-have-imprisioned-in-expression-i-must-free-by-my-deeds/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [For comedy action, I must know the language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammo-hung/for-comedy-action-i-must-know-the-language/) [Sammo Hung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammo-hung/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Action is a powerful thing. When you smile through your sadness, it can completely change your outlook. Try it! Smile :) Now hold onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leticia-rae/action-is-a-powerful-thing-when-you-smile-through-your-sadness-it-can/) [Leticia Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leticia-rae/) > [I reject criticism because the last thing I wanted was to sit there and look at people talking. I think people are conditioned to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tyrnauer/i-reject-criticism-because-the-last-thing-i-wanted-was-to-sit-there/) [Matt Tyrnauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tyrnauer/) > [“I take my actions because of my passion not because of compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/i-take-my-actions-because-of-my-passion-not-because-of-compulsion/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [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/) [Browse all 14,940 Action quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A nonviolent action accompanied by nonviolence in thought and word should never produce enduring violent reaction upon the opponent.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mahatma Gandhi" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/a-nonviolent-action-accompanied-by-nonviolence-in-thought-and-word/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Action" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/a-nonviolent-action-accompanied-by-nonviolence-in-thought-and-word/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41a/mahatma-gandhi-23_action_a-nonviolent-action-accompanied-by-nonvi_2584294.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41a/mahatma-gandhi-23_action_a-nonviolent-action-accompanied-by-nonvi_2584294.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41a/mahatma-gandhi-23_action_a-nonviolent-action-accompanied-by-nonvi_2584294.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A nonviolent action accompanied by nonviolence in thought and word should never produce enduring violent…” — Mahatma Gandhi", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Mahatma Gandhi", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A nonviolent action accompanied by nonviolence...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/a-nonviolent-action-accompanied-by-nonviolence-in-thought-and-word/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/a-nonviolent-action-accompanied-by-nonviolence-in-thought-and-word/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```