--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Where there is only a choice between…" description: "\"Where there is only a choice between cowardice and violence, I would advise violence.\" — Mahatma Gandhi" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5c/mahatma-gandhi-23_advise_where-there-is-only-a-choice-between-cow_2101198.jpg" --- # Where there is only a choice between cowardice and… ![“Where there is only a choice between cowardice and violence, I would advise violence.” quote by Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5c/mahatma-gandhi-23_advise_where-there-is-only-a-choice-between-cow_2101198.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5c/mahatma-gandhi-23_advise_where-there-is-only-a-choice-between-cow_2101198.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5c/mahatma-gandhi-23_advise_where-there-is-only-a-choice-between-cow_2101198.jpg) > “Where there is only a choice between cowardice and violence, I would advise violence.” [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. The speaker argues that when only two extreme options exist, choosing violence is preferable to cowardice. **In simple terms:** When forced, violence may seem better than cowardice. Key Takeaway Weigh choices carefully in dire situations. Themes ethics conflict decision‑making Mood critical serious Type ethical controversial When to use this quote - war - self‑defense - political protest - personal safety Key Concepts morality courage strategic choice Questions to Reflect On - Is violence ever justified? - What are the long‑term costs of choosing aggression? A Different Perspective Violence can have severe moral and practical consequences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Advise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advise/) [Advise Violence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advise-violence-1229197/) [Choice Cowardice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice-cowardice-1229198/) [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Cowardice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cowardice/) [Cowardice Violence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cowardice-violence-1873360/) [Fighting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fighting/) [Fighting on](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fighting-on/) [Martial arts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/martial-arts/) [Martial arts inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/martial-arts-inspirational/) [Patriotic gun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patriotic-gun/) [Patriotism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patriotism/) [Violence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violence/) [Violence Advise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violence-advise-1229196/) [Violence and peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violence-and-peace/) [Will to fight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/will-to-fight/) ## Related quotes > [“I do believe that, where there is only a choice between cowardice and violence, I would advise violence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-do-believe-that-where-there-is-only-a-choice-between-cowardice-and-2/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [I do believe that where there is a choice between cowardice and non-violence I would advise violence. Thus when my eldest son asked me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-do-believe-that-where-there-is-a-choice-between-cowardice-and-non/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Where choice is set between cowardice and violence, I would advise violence ... I prefer to use arms in defense of honor rather than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/where-choice-is-set-between-cowardice-and-violence-i-would-advise/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I do believe that, where there is only a choice between cowardice and violence, I would advise violence. I would rather have India resort…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-do-believe-that-where-there-is-only-a-choice-between-cowardice-and/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [The truth is that cowardice itself is violence of a subtle type and therefore dangerous and far more difficult to eradicate than the habit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/the-truth-is-that-cowardice-itself-is-violence-of-a-subtle-type-and/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [As an observer, you can clearly see that Western countries are war-weary and don't want to be pulled into new conflicts. They always proclaim…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-lauder/as-an-observer-you-can-clearly-see-that-western-countries-are-war/) [Ronald Lauder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-lauder/) > [The commanders and fighters of the entire Chinese People's Liberation Army absolutely must not relax in the least their will to fight; any thinking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mao-zedong/the-commanders-and-fighters-of-the-entire-chinese-people-s-liberation/) [Mao Zedong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mao-zedong/) > [Know the enemy and know yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/know-the-enemy-and-know-yourself/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [America has the power, but not the will to fight terrorism. The terrorists have the will, but not the power to fight America, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isser-harel/america-has-the-power-but-not-the-will-to-fight-terrorism-the/) [Isser Harel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isser-harel/) > [What you have to assess is whether you have the will to fight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/velupillai-prabhakaran/what-you-have-to-assess-is-whether-you-have-the-will-to-fight/) [Velupillai Prabhakaran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/velupillai-prabhakaran/) > [And we are understanding - we're beginning to understand that the Nigerian military is now better on. And also, probably even more importantly, Michel,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ofeibea-quist-arcton/and-we-are-understanding-we-re-beginning-to-understand-that-the/) [Ofeibea Quist-Arcton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ofeibea-quist-arcton/) > [“Year after year, the senior command placed a lone rifle company inside the Korengal, with power hard enough to antagonize the villagers but not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bing-west/year-after-year-the-senior-command-placed-a-lone-rifle-company-inside/) [Bing West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bing-west/) > [I run on the road long before I dance under the lights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/i-run-on-the-road-long-before-i-dance-under-the-lights/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) > [Each generation has to stand up for democracy. It can't take anything for granted and may have to fight fundamental battles anew.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/each-generation-has-to-stand-up-for-democracy-it-can-t-take-anything/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) > [Laws that forbid the carrying of arms . . . disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes . .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/laws-that-forbid-the-carrying-of-arms-disarm-only-those-who-are/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) ## 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 Advise quotes > [Choosing a job or business is the same thing. I'm not the best one to advise someone how to make billions of dollars; I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-roy/choosing-a-job-or-business-is-the-same-thing-i-m-not-the-best-one-to/) [Rachel Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-roy/) > [Buddhism advises you not to implant feelings that you don’t really have or avoid feelings that you do have. If you are miserable you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/buddhism-advises-you-not-to-implant-feelings-that-you-don-t-really/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I always advise people not to act upon the advice that I give them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/i-always-advise-people-not-to-act-upon-the-advice-that-i-give-them/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Sometimes curiosity is a poison, not only for those who drink it but for everyone around it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-norman-lippert/sometimes-curiosity-is-a-poison-not-only-for-those-who-drink-it-but/) [G. Norman Lippert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-norman-lippert/) > [Dont ever wrestle with a pig u'll both get dirty but the pig will enj0y it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/udechukwu-d0navan/dont-ever-wrestle-with-a-pig-u-ll-both-get-dirty-but-the-pig-will/) [Udechukwu D0navan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/udechukwu-d0navan/) > [Some writing courses will advise you to write what you know. I've always thought this is very odd advice ... because it means, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-scott/some-writing-courses-will-advise-you-to-write-what-you-know-i-ve/) [Michael Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-scott/) > [I advise women to invest in real estate. It is the collateral to be preferred above all others, and the safest means of investing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hetty-green/i-advise-women-to-invest-in-real-estate-it-is-the-collateral-to-be/) [Hetty Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hetty-green/) > [You bomb ISIL. You're not trying to bomb innocent people. And that requires intelligence and confidence in our military to be able to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/you-bomb-isil-you-re-not-trying-to-bomb-innocent-people-and-that/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [God is a spirit. Jesus was led up of the Spirit to be tempted of the Devil; and it is also true that spirits…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bradlaugh/god-is-a-spirit-jesus-was-led-up-of-the-spirit-to-be-tempted-of-the/) [Charles Bradlaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bradlaugh/) > [I do not allow fan-fiction. The characters are copyrighted. It upsets me terribly to even think about fan-fiction with my characters. I advise my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-rice/i-do-not-allow-fan-fiction-the-characters-are-copyrighted-it-upsets/) [Anne Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-rice/) > [Only a foolish man wil keep on doing one ting and expect another result](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordons/only-a-foolish-man-wil-keep-on-doing-one-ting-and-expect-another/) [Gordons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordons/) > [I do believe that where there is a choice between cowardice and non-violence I would advise violence. Thus when my eldest son asked me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-do-believe-that-where-there-is-a-choice-between-cowardice-and-non/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [You are lucky in life if you have the right heroes. I advise all of you, to the extent you can, to pick out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/you-are-lucky-in-life-if-you-have-the-right-heroes-i-advise-all-of/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [“I don't advise. You mutn't give any weight to what I say, except in so far as your own judgment approves it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-gissing/i-don-t-advise-you-mutn-t-give-any-weight-to-what-i-say-except-in-so/) [George Gissing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-gissing/) > [Parents can only advise their children or point them in the right direction. Ultimately people shape their own characters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-frank/parents-can-only-advise-their-children-or-point-them-in-the-right/) [Anne Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-frank/) [Browse all 507 Advise quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advise/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Where there is only a choice between cowardice and violence, I would advise violence.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mahatma Gandhi" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/where-there-is-only-a-choice-between-cowardice-and-violence-i-would/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Advise" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/where-there-is-only-a-choice-between-cowardice-and-violence-i-would/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5c/mahatma-gandhi-23_advise_where-there-is-only-a-choice-between-cow_2101198.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5c/mahatma-gandhi-23_advise_where-there-is-only-a-choice-between-cow_2101198.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5c/mahatma-gandhi-23_advise_where-there-is-only-a-choice-between-cow_2101198.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Where there is only a choice between cowardice and violence, I would advise violence.” — 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": "Where there is only a choice...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/where-there-is-only-a-choice-between-cowardice-and-violence-i-would/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/where-there-is-only-a-choice-between-cowardice-and-violence-i-would/#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 } } ] } ```