--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In the past, the greatest weapon the…" description: "\"In the past, the greatest weapon the white man has had has been his ability to divide and conquer. If I take my hand and slap you, you don't even feel ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8d/malcolm-x-213_ability_in-the-past-the-greatest-weapon-the-whit_2439064.jpg" --- # In the past, the greatest weapon the white man has had has… ![“In the past, the greatest weapon the white man has had has been his ability to divide and conquer. If I take my hand and slap you, you don't even feel it. It might sting you because these digits are separated. But all I have to do to put you back in your place is bring those digits together.” quote by Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8d/malcolm-x-213_ability_in-the-past-the-greatest-weapon-the-whit_2439064.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8d/malcolm-x-213_ability_in-the-past-the-greatest-weapon-the-whit_2439064.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8d/malcolm-x-213_ability_in-the-past-the-greatest-weapon-the-whit_2439064.jpg) > “In the past, the greatest weapon the white man has had has been his ability to divide and conquer. If I take my hand and slap you, you don't even feel it. It might sting you because these digits are separated. But all I have to do to put you back in your place is bring those digits together.” [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) ## 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 division is a tool of oppression; uniting people removes that power. **In simple terms:** Dividing people empowers oppressors; unity weakens them. Key Takeaway Promote solidarity to counteract division. Themes oppression unity power Mood determined hopeful Type political social When to use this quote - community organizing - political activism - education programs Key Concepts divide and conquer social cohesion racial justice Questions to Reflect On - What steps can foster genuine unity? - How can divided groups reconcile differences? A Different Perspective Unity can be difficult to achieve across deep divisions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/back/) [Because](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/because/) [Been](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/been/) [Bring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bring/) [Conquer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conquer/) [Conquer Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conquer-hand-470988/) [Digits Separated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/digits-separated-470990/) [Divide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divide/) [Divide and conquer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divide-and-conquer/) [Even](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/even/) [Feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feel/) [Greatest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatest/) [Had](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/had/) [Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hand/) [Hand Slap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hand-slap-413866/) [His](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/his/) [In the past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/in-the-past/) [Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man/) [Might](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/might/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Place](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/place/) [Put](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/put/) [Separated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/separated/) [Slap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slap/) [Sting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sting/) [Take](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/take/) [Those](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/those/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Together](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/together/) [Weapon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weapon/) [Weapon White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weapon-white-470989/) [White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/white/) [White man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/white-man/) [You](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you/) [Your](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/your/) ## Related quotes > [The greatest weapon the colonial powers have used in the past against our people has always been his ability to divide and conquer. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/the-greatest-weapon-the-colonial-powers-have-used-in-the-past-against/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [“If you ever lay a hand on me. Slap me, hit me, grab me, push me, anything. I’m gone. I’ll leave you and never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-hildreth/if-you-ever-lay-a-hand-on-me-slap-me-hit-me-grab-me-push-me-anything/) [Scott Hildreth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-hildreth/) > [I would slap you but it would take both my hand to slap both ur faces.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author-name/i-would-slap-you-but-it-would-take-both-my-hand-to-slap-both-ur-faces/) [Author Name](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/author-name/) > [Afro-Caribbean influences are in me as a creative being the same way Spanish influences were in Picasso's work. I think the notion of labels…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garth-fagan/afro-caribbean-influences-are-in-me-as-a-creative-being-the-same-way/) [Garth Fagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garth-fagan/) > [“It is not a secret that most American and Western institutions and workplaces are very much like mountains: the higher one climbs, the whiter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-yako/it-is-not-a-secret-that-most-american-and-western-institutions-and/) [Louis Yako](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-yako/) > [The Internet allows foreign adversaries to attack America in new and unexpected ways. Free and fair elections are hard-fought and contentious. There will always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-rosenstein/the-internet-allows-foreign-adversaries-to-attack-america-in-new-and/) [Rod Rosenstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-rosenstein/) > [We all sat there laughing and sipping tea peacefully, an infidel and representatives from three warring sects of Islam. And I thought if we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-mortenson/we-all-sat-there-laughing-and-sipping-tea-peacefully-an-infidel-and/) [Greg Mortenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-mortenson/) > [The most fundamental problem in software development is complexity. There is only one basic way of dealing with complexity: divide and conquer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bjarne-stroustrup/the-most-fundamental-problem-in-software-development-is-complexity/) [Bjarne Stroustrup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bjarne-stroustrup/) > [“I’m sorry. Walls are closing in and I need to go. Love you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abigail-roux/i-m-sorry-walls-are-closing-in-and-i-need-to-go-love-you/) [Abigail Roux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abigail-roux/) > [Divide and conquer must become define and empower.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audre-lorde/divide-and-conquer-must-become-define-and-empower/) [Audre Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audre-lorde/) > [“So how you’re gonna play this?” Trenton asked. “Divide and conquer.” “Divide what?” “His head from the rest of his body.” Trenton nodded quickly.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/so-how-you-re-gonna-play-this-trenton-asked-divide-and-conquer-divide/) [Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/) > [It's no coincidence that patriarchal structures look to divide and conquer strong female relationships.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-d-arcy/it-s-no-coincidence-that-patriarchal-structures-look-to-divide-and/) [Emma D'Arcy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-d-arcy/) > [“In our world, divide and conquer must become define and empower.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audre-lorde/in-our-world-divide-and-conquer-must-become-define-and-empower/) [Audre Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audre-lorde/) > [“It wasn’t just ‘divide and conquer,’” said Kazikhanov. “It was ‘divide, conquer, and tie up in trouble.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-meier/it-wasn-t-just-divide-and-conquer-said-kazikhanov-it-was-divide/) [Andrew Meier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-meier/) > [“Julian recognized that the strength of the orthodox Church rested to a great extent on the imperial discrimination in its favour. According to Ammianus,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-johnson/julian-recognized-that-the-strength-of-the-orthodox-church-rested-to/) [Paul Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-johnson/) ## More by Malcolm X > [If Christianity had asserted itself in Germany, six million Jews would have lived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/if-christianity-had-asserted-itself-in-germany-six-million-jews-would/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [Adam Clayton Powell's entire political career has to be looked at in the entire context of the American history and the history of, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/adam-clayton-powell-s-entire-political-career-has-to-be-looked-at-in/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [American civil rights leader, Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community? Lynching is a murder. For the past four hundred years our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/american-civil-rights-leader-where-do-we-go-from-here-chaos-or/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [Be nonviolent only with those who are nonviolent to you. And when you can bring me a nonviolent racist, bring me a nonviolent segregationist,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/be-nonviolent-only-with-those-who-are-nonviolent-to-you-and-when-you/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [You can't legislate good will - that comes through education.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/you-can-t-legislate-good-will-that-comes-through-education/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [Truth is on the side of the oppressed today, it's against the oppressor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/truth-is-on-the-side-of-the-oppressed-today-it-s-against-the-oppressor/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [Those type of whites who are always going to jail with Negroes are the ones who tell Negroes to be loving and be kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/those-type-of-whites-who-are-always-going-to-jail-with-negroes-are/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [We Muslims believe that the white race, which is guilty of having oppressed and exploited and enslaved our people here in America, should and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/we-muslims-believe-that-the-white-race-which-is-guilty-of-having/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [I mean a real police state just to get a token recognition of a law. It take, it took, I think, 15,000 troops and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/i-mean-a-real-police-state-just-to-get-a-token-recognition-of-a-law/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [Like Samson, I am ready to pull down the white man's temple, knowing full well that I will be destroyed by the falling rubble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/like-samson-i-am-ready-to-pull-down-the-white-man-s-temple-knowing/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [Any negro who occupies a position that was given to him by the white man, if you analyze his function, his function never enables…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/any-negro-who-occupies-a-position-that-was-given-to-him-by-the-white/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [Stumbling is not falling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/stumbling-is-not-falling/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [God is going to punish the white man for his misdeeds toward black people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/god-is-going-to-punish-the-white-man-for-his-misdeeds-toward-black/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [Much of what I say might sound like it's stirring up trouble, but it's the truth!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/much-of-what-i-say-might-sound-like-it-s-stirring-up-trouble-but-it-s/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [I believe in the brotherhood of all men, but I don't believe in wasting brotherhood on anyone who doesn't want to practice it with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/i-believe-in-the-brotherhood-of-all-men-but-i-don-t-believe-in/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) [Explore all 891 Malcolm X quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In the past, the greatest weapon the white man has had has been his ability to divide and conquer. 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