--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Nonviolence becomes meaningless if…" description: "\"Nonviolence becomes meaningless if violence is permitted for self-defence.\" — Mahatma Gandhi" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0e/mahatma-gandhi-23_defence_nonviolence-becomes-meaningless-if-viole_2695028.jpg" --- # Nonviolence becomes meaningless if violence is permitted… ![“Nonviolence becomes meaningless if violence is permitted for self-defence.” quote by Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0e/mahatma-gandhi-23_defence_nonviolence-becomes-meaningless-if-viole_2695028.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0e/mahatma-gandhi-23_defence_nonviolence-becomes-meaningless-if-viole_2695028.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0e/mahatma-gandhi-23_defence_nonviolence-becomes-meaningless-if-viole_2695028.jpg) > “Nonviolence becomes meaningless if violence is permitted for self-defence.” [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. Self‑defence justified violence undermines non‑violence. **In simple terms:** Defending yourself with force contradicts peace. Key Takeaway Seek non‑violent protection methods. Themes non‑violence self‑defence ethics Mood thoughtful serious Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - personal safety - legal self‑defence - peaceful protest Key Concepts moral philosophy conflict resolution Questions to Reflect On - When is force morally permissible? - Can non‑violence always protect? A Different Perspective Self‑defence may be necessary. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Defence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defence/) [Nonviolence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nonviolence/) [Peacebuilding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peacebuilding/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self defence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-defence/) [Violence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violence/) ## Related quotes > [The strength to kill is not essential for self-defence; one ought to have the strength to die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/the-strength-to-kill-is-not-essential-for-self-defence-one-ought-to/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Society had grown cruel. People who felt they were unwanted or unwelcome in their own country, reacted with aggression. There was no such thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henning-mankell/society-had-grown-cruel-people-who-felt-they-were-unwanted-or/) [Henning Mankell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henning-mankell/) > [ Violence or the threat of violence \[must\] never be permitted to influence the actions or judgments of the university community. Once it does, the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/violence-or-the-threat-of-violence-must-never-be-permitted-to/) [Richard M. 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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. 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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 Defence quotes > [When I talk about my childhood I used to say it as if it was scripted and I'd make jokes because it was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-katona/when-i-talk-about-my-childhood-i-used-to-say-it-as-if-it-was-scripted/) [Kerry Katona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-katona/) > [Everyone says there's a lot of strength, a lot of big guys in defence, the Premier League is very fast and there's a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timo-werner/everyone-says-there-s-a-lot-of-strength-a-lot-of-big-guys-in-defence/) [Timo Werner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timo-werner/) > [“No thanky-you; you can't overcome hatred with more hatred. 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