---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was a hardliner with regard to…"
description: "\"I was a hardliner with regard to colonialism, which had occupied Africa and large parts of the world. We were waging an armed struggle, and therefore, ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ef/muammar-al-gaddafi-9622_armed-struggle_i-was-a-hardliner-with-regard-to-colonia_141998.jpg"
---

#  I was a hardliner with regard to colonialism, which had…

![“I was a hardliner with regard to colonialism, which had occupied Africa and large parts of the world. We were waging an armed struggle, and therefore, one had to be strong. But now, no one asks for weapons but for economic aid, which changes your position.” quote by Muammar al-Gaddafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ef/muammar-al-gaddafi-9622_armed-struggle_i-was-a-hardliner-with-regard-to-colonia_141998.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ef/muammar-al-gaddafi-9622_armed-struggle_i-was-a-hardliner-with-regard-to-colonia_141998.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ef/muammar-al-gaddafi-9622_armed-struggle_i-was-a-hardliner-with-regard-to-colonia_141998.jpg)

> “I was a hardliner with regard to colonialism, which had occupied Africa and large parts of the world. We were waging an armed struggle, and therefore, one had to be strong. But now, no one asks for weapons but for economic aid, which changes your position.”

[Muammar al-Gaddafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muammar-al-gaddafi/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

He describes a shift from violent resistance to seeking economic assistance, reflecting changing tactics in anti‑colonial struggles.

**In simple terms:** From fighting to asking for aid.

Key Takeaway

Adapt tactics to current needs.

Themes

politics colonialism strategy economics change

Mood

reflective critical thoughtful

Type

political historical analytical

When to use this quote

- NGO funding negotiations
- peace negotiations
- development aid requests
- post‑conflict reconstruction
- policy advocacy

Key Concepts

power dynamics resource allocation post‑colonial theory

Questions to Reflect On

- How does reliance on aid affect sovereignty?
- What are the risks of abandoning armed struggle?

A Different Perspective

Economic aid may create dependency or reduce leverage.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Armed struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/armed-struggle/) [Colonialism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/colonialism/) [Struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggle/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/)

## Related quotes

> [I won't be a party to a conspiracy to mobilize the Arabs against the Persians. Only the forces of colonialism benefit from such a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muammar-al-gaddafi/i-won-t-be-a-party-to-a-conspiracy-to-mobilize-the-arabs-against-the/)

[Muammar al-Gaddafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muammar-al-gaddafi/)

> [Act after having made assessments. The one who first knows the measure of far and near wins - this is the rule of armed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/act-after-having-made-assessments-the-one-who-first-knows-the-measure/)

[Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/)

> [Armed struggle is a necessary and morally correct form of resistance in the Six Counties against a government whose presence is rejected by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-adams/armed-struggle-is-a-necessary-and-morally-correct-form-of-resistance/)

[Gerry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-adams/)

> [In the past I have defended the right of the IRA to engage in armed struggle. I did so because there was no alternative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-adams/in-the-past-i-have-defended-the-right-of-the-ira-to-engage-in-armed/)

[Gerry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-adams/)

> [The IRA has abandoned its armed struggle in pursuit of its goals by political means. This must be fully acknowledged. Continued challenge does nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-t-walsh/the-ira-has-abandoned-its-armed-struggle-in-pursuit-of-its-goals-by/)

[James T. Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-t-walsh/)

> [Our militant union with peoples which still have to carry on an armed struggle against the colonialists constitutes an important element of our line…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonid-brezhnev/our-militant-union-with-peoples-which-still-have-to-carry-on-an-armed/)

[Leonid Brezhnev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonid-brezhnev/)

> [My father believed in armed struggle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hisham-matar/my-father-believed-in-armed-struggle/)

[Hisham Matar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hisham-matar/)

> [The main form of struggle is war; the main form of organization is the army... . Without armed struggle there would be no place…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mao-zedong/the-main-form-of-struggle-is-war-the-main-form-of-organization-is-the/)

[Mao Zedong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mao-zedong/)

> [We don't want to impose our solutions by force, we want to create a democratic space. We don't see armed struggle in the classic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/subcomandante-marcos/we-don-t-want-to-impose-our-solutions-by-force-we-want-to-create-a/)

[Subcomandante Marcos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/subcomandante-marcos/)

> [Two years ago, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon described the Gaza Strip settlement of Netzarim as a vital part of Israel's national security and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zuheir-mohsen/two-years-ago-israeli-prime-minister-ariel-sharon-described-the-gaza/)

Zuheir Mohsen

> [We will defend our victory through armed struggle. We will have to do that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mugabe/we-will-defend-our-victory-through-armed-struggle-we-will-have-to-do/)

[Robert Mugabe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mugabe/)

> [The purpose of armed struggle is not simply to kill ... its purpose is to reach a political goal,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abu-abbas/the-purpose-of-armed-struggle-is-not-simply-to-kill-its-purpose-is-to/)

[Abu Abbas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abu-abbas/)

> [I supported the right of oppressed people to armed struggle. That didn't mean I did it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-rosenberg/i-supported-the-right-of-oppressed-people-to-armed-struggle-that-didn/)

[Susan Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-rosenberg/)

> [I rejected the armed struggle because, as a Christian, I am committed to a nonviolent and peaceful struggle. But people take their own initiatives,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mangosuthu-buthelezi/i-rejected-the-armed-struggle-because-as-a-christian-i-am-committed/)

[Mangosuthu Buthelezi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mangosuthu-buthelezi/)

> [I don't accept armed struggle. Maybe it was the way in the '50s and '60s, but we want a democratic revolution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evo-morales/i-don-t-accept-armed-struggle-maybe-it-was-the-way-in-the-50s-and-60s/)

[Evo Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evo-morales/)

## More by Muammar al-Gaddafi

> [We put our fingers in the eyes of those who doubt that Libya is ruled by anyone other than its people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muammar-al-gaddafi/we-put-our-fingers-in-the-eyes-of-those-who-doubt-that-libya-is-ruled/)

[Muammar al-Gaddafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muammar-al-gaddafi/)

> [We can call it Isratine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muammar-al-gaddafi/we-can-call-it-isratine/)

[Muammar al-Gaddafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muammar-al-gaddafi/)

> [We can export terrorism. We can assassinate and set fires inside the territory of the United States as it did to all of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muammar-al-gaddafi/we-can-export-terrorism-we-can-assassinate-and-set-fires-inside-the/)

[Muammar al-Gaddafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muammar-al-gaddafi/)

> [During my term in AU, I will initiate an organised compensation claim for Africa and I will fight for a greater voice for Africa…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muammar-al-gaddafi/during-my-term-in-au-i-will-initiate-an-organised-compensation-claim/)

[Muammar al-Gaddafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muammar-al-gaddafi/)

> [Those who do not love me do not deserve to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muammar-al-gaddafi/those-who-do-not-love-me-do-not-deserve-to-live/)

[Muammar al-Gaddafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muammar-al-gaddafi/)

> [There are signs that Allah will grant Islam victory in Europe - without swords, without guns, without conquests. The 50 million Muslims of Europe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muammar-al-gaddafi/there-are-signs-that-allah-will-grant-islam-victory-in-europe-without/)

[Muammar al-Gaddafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muammar-al-gaddafi/)

> [All of the great prophets of modern times have come from the desert and were uneducated: Mohammed, Jesus and myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muammar-al-gaddafi/all-of-the-great-prophets-of-modern-times-have-come-from-the-desert/)

[Muammar al-Gaddafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muammar-al-gaddafi/)

> [All right, then nobody can complain if we ask pregnant women to make parachute jumps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muammar-al-gaddafi/all-right-then-nobody-can-complain-if-we-ask-pregnant-women-to-make/)

[Muammar al-Gaddafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muammar-al-gaddafi/)

> [I am defending the Jews to prevent them from becoming extinct, because they are doomed to become extinct if they continue this way… I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muammar-al-gaddafi/i-am-defending-the-jews-to-prevent-them-from-becoming-extinct-because/)

[Muammar al-Gaddafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muammar-al-gaddafi/)

> [Irrespective of the conflict with America it is a human duty to show sympathy with the American people, and be with them at these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muammar-al-gaddafi/irrespective-of-the-conflict-with-america-it-is-a-human-duty-to-show/)

[Muammar al-Gaddafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muammar-al-gaddafi/)

> [The times of Arab nationalism and unity are gone forever. These ideas which mobilized the masses are only a worthless currency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muammar-al-gaddafi/the-times-of-arab-nationalism-and-unity-are-gone-forever-these-ideas/)

[Muammar al-Gaddafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muammar-al-gaddafi/)

> [Britain no longer exists. It is a trace of what it used to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muammar-al-gaddafi/britain-no-longer-exists-it-is-a-trace-of-what-it-used-to-be/)

[Muammar al-Gaddafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muammar-al-gaddafi/)

> [ \[The\] type of education now prevailing all over the world is directed against human freedom. State-controlled education ... deprives people of their free choice,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muammar-al-gaddafi/the-type-of-education-now-prevailing-all-over-the-world-is-directed/)

[Muammar al-Gaddafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muammar-al-gaddafi/)

> [I think Americans are good, but America will be taken over and destroyed from the inside by the Zionist lobby. The Americans do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muammar-al-gaddafi/i-think-americans-are-good-but-america-will-be-taken-over-and/)

[Muammar al-Gaddafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muammar-al-gaddafi/)

> [There must be a world revolution which puts an end to all materialistic conditions hindering woman from performing her natural role in life and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muammar-al-gaddafi/there-must-be-a-world-revolution-which-puts-an-end-to-all/)

[Muammar al-Gaddafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muammar-al-gaddafi/)

[Explore all 71 Muammar al-Gaddafi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muammar-al-gaddafi/)

## More Armed struggle quotes

> [Act after having made assessments. The one who first knows the measure of far and near wins - this is the rule of armed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/act-after-having-made-assessments-the-one-who-first-knows-the-measure/)

[Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/)

> [I rejected the armed struggle because, as a Christian, I am committed to a nonviolent and peaceful struggle. But people take their own initiatives,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mangosuthu-buthelezi/i-rejected-the-armed-struggle-because-as-a-christian-i-am-committed/)

[Mangosuthu Buthelezi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mangosuthu-buthelezi/)

> [I supported the right of oppressed people to armed struggle. That didn't mean I did it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-rosenberg/i-supported-the-right-of-oppressed-people-to-armed-struggle-that-didn/)

[Susan Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-rosenberg/)

> [The purpose of armed struggle is not simply to kill ... its purpose is to reach a political goal,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abu-abbas/the-purpose-of-armed-struggle-is-not-simply-to-kill-its-purpose-is-to/)

[Abu Abbas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abu-abbas/)

> [We will defend our victory through armed struggle. We will have to do that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mugabe/we-will-defend-our-victory-through-armed-struggle-we-will-have-to-do/)

[Robert Mugabe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mugabe/)

> [Two years ago, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon described the Gaza Strip settlement of Netzarim as a vital part of Israel's national security and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zuheir-mohsen/two-years-ago-israeli-prime-minister-ariel-sharon-described-the-gaza/)

Zuheir Mohsen

> [We don't want to impose our solutions by force, we want to create a democratic space. We don't see armed struggle in the classic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/subcomandante-marcos/we-don-t-want-to-impose-our-solutions-by-force-we-want-to-create-a/)

[Subcomandante Marcos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/subcomandante-marcos/)

> [The main form of struggle is war; the main form of organization is the army... . Without armed struggle there would be no place…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mao-zedong/the-main-form-of-struggle-is-war-the-main-form-of-organization-is-the/)

[Mao Zedong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mao-zedong/)

> [My father believed in armed struggle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hisham-matar/my-father-believed-in-armed-struggle/)

[Hisham Matar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hisham-matar/)

> [Our militant union with peoples which still have to carry on an armed struggle against the colonialists constitutes an important element of our line…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonid-brezhnev/our-militant-union-with-peoples-which-still-have-to-carry-on-an-armed/)

[Leonid Brezhnev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonid-brezhnev/)

> [The IRA has abandoned its armed struggle in pursuit of its goals by political means. This must be fully acknowledged. Continued challenge does nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-t-walsh/the-ira-has-abandoned-its-armed-struggle-in-pursuit-of-its-goals-by/)

[James T. Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-t-walsh/)

> [In the past I have defended the right of the IRA to engage in armed struggle. I did so because there was no alternative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-adams/in-the-past-i-have-defended-the-right-of-the-ira-to-engage-in-armed/)

[Gerry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-adams/)

> [Armed struggle is a necessary and morally correct form of resistance in the Six Counties against a government whose presence is rejected by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-adams/armed-struggle-is-a-necessary-and-morally-correct-form-of-resistance/)

[Gerry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-adams/)

> [I don't accept armed struggle. Maybe it was the way in the '50s and '60s, but we want a democratic revolution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evo-morales/i-don-t-accept-armed-struggle-maybe-it-was-the-way-in-the-50s-and-60s/)

[Evo Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evo-morales/)

> [The armed struggle is not ending just now. We are upholding a ceasefire. We have our arms with us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mugabe/the-armed-struggle-is-not-ending-just-now-we-are-upholding-a/)

[Robert Mugabe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mugabe/)

[Browse all 19 Armed struggle quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/armed-struggle/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I was a hardliner with regard to colonialism, which had occupied Africa and large parts of the world. We were waging an armed struggle, and therefore, one had to be strong. But now, no one asks for weapons but for economic aid, which changes your position.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Muammar al-Gaddafi"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muammar-al-gaddafi/i-was-a-hardliner-with-regard-to-colonialism-which-had-occupied/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Armed struggle"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muammar-al-gaddafi/i-was-a-hardliner-with-regard-to-colonialism-which-had-occupied/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ef/muammar-al-gaddafi-9622_armed-struggle_i-was-a-hardliner-with-regard-to-colonia_141998.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ef/muammar-al-gaddafi-9622_armed-struggle_i-was-a-hardliner-with-regard-to-colonia_141998.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ef/muammar-al-gaddafi-9622_armed-struggle_i-was-a-hardliner-with-regard-to-colonia_141998.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I was a hardliner with regard to colonialism, which had occupied Africa and large parts of the world. We…” — Muammar al-Gaddafi",
                "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": "Muammar al-Gaddafi",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muammar-al-gaddafi/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I was a hardliner with regard...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muammar-al-gaddafi/i-was-a-hardliner-with-regard-to-colonialism-which-had-occupied/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muammar-al-gaddafi/i-was-a-hardliner-with-regard-to-colonialism-which-had-occupied/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
