---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is possible to tolerate anything as…"
description: "\"It is possible to tolerate anything as long as it only affects you. But the method of collective punishment is bigger than that.\" — Nadezhda Tolokonnikova"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f8/nadezhda-tolokonnikova-24852_affects_it-is-possible-to-tolerate-anything-as-l_376460.jpg"
---

#  It is possible to tolerate anything as long as it only…

![“It is possible to tolerate anything as long as it only affects you. But the method of collective punishment is bigger than that.” quote by Nadezhda Tolokonnikova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f8/nadezhda-tolokonnikova-24852_affects_it-is-possible-to-tolerate-anything-as-l_376460.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f8/nadezhda-tolokonnikova-24852_affects_it-is-possible-to-tolerate-anything-as-l_376460.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f8/nadezhda-tolokonnikova-24852_affects_it-is-possible-to-tolerate-anything-as-l_376460.jpg)

> “It is possible to tolerate anything as long as it only affects you. But the method of collective punishment is bigger than that.”

[Nadezhda Tolokonnikova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadezhda-tolokonnikova/)

## About This Quote

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

One can endure personal harm, but collective punishment harms many and is morally worse.

**In simple terms:** Personal pain is tolerable; hurting groups is worse.

Key Takeaway

Avoid harming groups for individual benefit.

Themes

justice collective responsibility violence

Mood

serious reflective

Type

political ethical

When to use this quote

- activism
- policy making
- community conflict resolution

Key Concepts

ethics social dynamics

Questions to Reflect On

- When is collective punishment justified?
- How can societies protect individuals without harming groups?

A Different Perspective

Collective punishment may be justified in extreme self‑defense scenarios.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Affects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affects/) [Anything](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anything/) [Bigger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bigger/) [Collective](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/collective/) [Collective Punishment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/collective-punishment-2575788/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Method](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/method/) [Only](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/only/) [Possible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possible/) [Possible Tolerate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possible-tolerate-3422287/) [Punishment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/punishment/) [Punishment Bigger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/punishment-bigger-3422288/) [Than](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/than/) [Tolerate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tolerate/) [Tolerate Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tolerate-long-1293483/) [You](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you/)

## Related quotes

> [Negative company will never give you a positive life. Examine what you tolerate in the long-term.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhatsprincess/negative-company-will-never-give-you-a-positive-life-examine-what-you/)

[ZhatsPrincess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhatsprincess/)

> [The method of collective punishment so far has proved effective.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moshe-dayan/the-method-of-collective-punishment-so-far-has-proved-effective/)

[Moshe Dayan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moshe-dayan/)

> [Zero-tolerance on drinking and driving - meaning no drinking at all before driving - is a collective punishment that, in essence, only affects responsible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-harsanyi/zero-tolerance-on-drinking-and-driving-meaning-no-drinking-at-all/)

[David Harsanyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-harsanyi/)

> [“that each affects the other and tho other affects the next, and the world is full of stories, but the stories are all one.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/that-each-affects-the-other-and-tho-other-affects-the-next-and-the/)

[Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/)

> [People always tell me the next stage of my career means moving to New York, but I never will. I don't care how that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-lacy/people-always-tell-me-the-next-stage-of-my-career-means-moving-to-new/)

[Sarah Lacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-lacy/)

> [I do know that I think children should be vaccinated because that affects the health of all the other children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-peet/i-do-know-that-i-think-children-should-be-vaccinated-because-that/)

[Amanda Peet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-peet/)

> [With health, it affects a whole lot of different areas of your body. When it comes to helping, I love kids, so whatever it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ciara/with-health-it-affects-a-whole-lot-of-different-areas-of-your-body/)

[Ciara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ciara/)

> [Your environment affects you wherever you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mitchell/your-environment-affects-you-wherever-you-are/)

[David Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mitchell/)

> [The so-called skills gap is really a gap in education, and that affects all of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-davidson/the-so-called-skills-gap-is-really-a-gap-in-education-and-that/)

[Adam Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-davidson/)

> [Education affects every major challenge we face in society. It creates economic growth, paves the way for peace and stability and helps erase the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shakira/education-affects-every-major-challenge-we-face-in-society-it-creates/)

[Shakira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shakira/)

> [“Mood evidently affects the operation of System 1: when we are uncomfortable and unhappy, we lose touch with our intuition.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kahneman/mood-evidently-affects-the-operation-of-system-1-when-we-are/)

[Daniel Kahneman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kahneman/)

> [Spina bifida affects every single aspect of your life, from your child's self-esteem to your ability to sleep at night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-ari-parker/spina-bifida-affects-every-single-aspect-of-your-life-from-your-child/)

[Nicole Ari Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-ari-parker/)

> [I think that, as Americans, we should never forget that when we tamper with freedom of speech, it is a very sensitive issue that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-b-rangel/i-think-that-as-americans-we-should-never-forget-that-when-we-tamper/)

[Charles B. Rangel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-b-rangel/)

> [He brought a sensibility and a hard-edged reasonableness to operating restaurants that had a lasting impact on me and still affects how I run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bastianich/he-brought-a-sensibility-and-a-hard-edged-reasonableness-to-operating/)

[Joe Bastianich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bastianich/)

> [Everything affects hip-hop. The question is, how does it affect the money that corporations are going to invest to put out different kinds of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-i-am/everything-affects-hip-hop-the-question-is-how-does-it-affect-the/)

[will.i.am](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-i-am/)

## More by Nadezhda Tolokonnikova

> [Modern capitalism seeks to assure us that it operates according to the principles of free creativity, endless development and diversity. It glosses over its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadezhda-tolokonnikova/modern-capitalism-seeks-to-assure-us-that-it-operates-according-to/)

[Nadezhda Tolokonnikova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadezhda-tolokonnikova/)

> [I support equality. Everyone should feel free to live out the parts of their personality that correspond to the classic male or female image.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadezhda-tolokonnikova/i-support-equality-everyone-should-feel-free-to-live-out-the-parts-of/)

[Nadezhda Tolokonnikova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadezhda-tolokonnikova/)

> [I gained an inner peace, the serenity of a prisoner, so to speak.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadezhda-tolokonnikova/i-gained-an-inner-peace-the-serenity-of-a-prisoner-so-to-speak/)

[Nadezhda Tolokonnikova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadezhda-tolokonnikova/)

> [I was treated better than others, simply because there was so much public attention. In my case, they did adhere to the eight-hour workday…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadezhda-tolokonnikova/i-was-treated-better-than-others-simply-because-there-was-so-much/)

[Nadezhda Tolokonnikova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadezhda-tolokonnikova/)

> [In May 2013, my lawyer Dmitry Dinze filed a complaint about the conditions at PC-14 with the prosecutor's office. The deputy head of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadezhda-tolokonnikova/in-may-2013-my-lawyer-dmitry-dinze-filed-a-complaint-about-the/)

[Nadezhda Tolokonnikova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadezhda-tolokonnikova/)

> [The Olympics create a space for the complete destruction of human rights in Russia.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadezhda-tolokonnikova/the-olympics-create-a-space-for-the-complete-destruction-of-human/)

[Nadezhda Tolokonnikova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadezhda-tolokonnikova/)

> [I will not remain silent, resigned to watch as my fellow prisoners collapse under the strain of slavery-like conditions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadezhda-tolokonnikova/i-will-not-remain-silent-resigned-to-watch-as-my-fellow-prisoners/)

[Nadezhda Tolokonnikova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadezhda-tolokonnikova/)

> [We see pluralism: We can see that there are different ideological and political positions in Russia. If the authoritarianism finally ends, we will have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadezhda-tolokonnikova/we-see-pluralism-we-can-see-that-there-are-different-ideological-and/)

[Nadezhda Tolokonnikova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadezhda-tolokonnikova/)

> [I also dreamt about finally meeting the leftist Slovenian philosopher Slavoj Žižek. He is a great role model for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadezhda-tolokonnikova/i-also-dreamt-about-finally-meeting-the-leftist-slovenian-philosopher/)

[Nadezhda Tolokonnikova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadezhda-tolokonnikova/)

> [I believe in fate. And in the depths of my soul, I am an Orthodox Christian. I think the New Testament is especially important.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadezhda-tolokonnikova/i-believe-in-fate-and-in-the-depths-of-my-soul-i-am-an-orthodox/)

[Nadezhda Tolokonnikova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadezhda-tolokonnikova/)

> [The incomprehensible pleases us, the inexplicable is our friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadezhda-tolokonnikova/the-incomprehensible-pleases-us-the-inexplicable-is-our-friend/)

[Nadezhda Tolokonnikova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadezhda-tolokonnikova/)

> [If I am a sex symbol, it's certainly not in the classic sense. I'm opposed to the traditional image of a woman's role.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadezhda-tolokonnikova/if-i-am-a-sex-symbol-it-s-certainly-not-in-the-classic-sense-i-m/)

[Nadezhda Tolokonnikova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadezhda-tolokonnikova/)

> [Thus, the word is more essential than cement. Thus, the word is not a small nothing. In this manner, noble people begin to grow,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadezhda-tolokonnikova/thus-the-word-is-more-essential-than-cement-thus-the-word-is-not-a/)

[Nadezhda Tolokonnikova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadezhda-tolokonnikova/)

> [Men should also pay attention to their appearance and occasionally use cosmetics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadezhda-tolokonnikova/men-should-also-pay-attention-to-their-appearance-and-occasionally/)

[Nadezhda Tolokonnikova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadezhda-tolokonnikova/)

> [We are reviled but we do not intend to speak evil in return. We are in desperate straits but do not despair. We are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadezhda-tolokonnikova/we-are-reviled-but-we-do-not-intend-to-speak-evil-in-return-we-are-in/)

[Nadezhda Tolokonnikova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadezhda-tolokonnikova/)

[Explore all 24 Nadezhda Tolokonnikova quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadezhda-tolokonnikova/)

## More Affects quotes

> [Everything affects hip-hop. The question is, how does it affect the money that corporations are going to invest to put out different kinds of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-i-am/everything-affects-hip-hop-the-question-is-how-does-it-affect-the/)

[will.i.am](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-i-am/)

> [He brought a sensibility and a hard-edged reasonableness to operating restaurants that had a lasting impact on me and still affects how I run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bastianich/he-brought-a-sensibility-and-a-hard-edged-reasonableness-to-operating/)

[Joe Bastianich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bastianich/)

> [I think that, as Americans, we should never forget that when we tamper with freedom of speech, it is a very sensitive issue that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-b-rangel/i-think-that-as-americans-we-should-never-forget-that-when-we-tamper/)

[Charles B. Rangel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-b-rangel/)

> [Spina bifida affects every single aspect of your life, from your child's self-esteem to your ability to sleep at night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-ari-parker/spina-bifida-affects-every-single-aspect-of-your-life-from-your-child/)

[Nicole Ari Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-ari-parker/)

> [“Mood evidently affects the operation of System 1: when we are uncomfortable and unhappy, we lose touch with our intuition.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kahneman/mood-evidently-affects-the-operation-of-system-1-when-we-are/)

[Daniel Kahneman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kahneman/)

> [Education affects every major challenge we face in society. It creates economic growth, paves the way for peace and stability and helps erase the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shakira/education-affects-every-major-challenge-we-face-in-society-it-creates/)

[Shakira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shakira/)

> [The so-called skills gap is really a gap in education, and that affects all of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-davidson/the-so-called-skills-gap-is-really-a-gap-in-education-and-that/)

[Adam Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-davidson/)

> [Your environment affects you wherever you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mitchell/your-environment-affects-you-wherever-you-are/)

[David Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mitchell/)

> [With health, it affects a whole lot of different areas of your body. When it comes to helping, I love kids, so whatever it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ciara/with-health-it-affects-a-whole-lot-of-different-areas-of-your-body/)

[Ciara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ciara/)

> [I do know that I think children should be vaccinated because that affects the health of all the other children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-peet/i-do-know-that-i-think-children-should-be-vaccinated-because-that/)

[Amanda Peet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-peet/)

> [People always tell me the next stage of my career means moving to New York, but I never will. I don't care how that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-lacy/people-always-tell-me-the-next-stage-of-my-career-means-moving-to-new/)

[Sarah Lacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-lacy/)

> [“that each affects the other and tho other affects the next, and the world is full of stories, but the stories are all one.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/that-each-affects-the-other-and-tho-other-affects-the-next-and-the/)

[Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/)

> [What happens in one region affects people across the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reuven-rivlin/what-happens-in-one-region-affects-people-across-the-world/)

[Reuven Rivlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reuven-rivlin/)

> [Every role affects you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-benoist/every-role-affects-you/)

[Melissa Benoist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-benoist/)

> [Developing a good, healthy culture is extremely important at a startup. Culture reflects the essence of a startup's operation because it directly affects the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-weiss/developing-a-good-healthy-culture-is-extremely-important-at-a-startup/)

[Scott Weiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-weiss/)

[Browse all 240 Affects quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affects/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "It is possible to tolerate anything as long as it only affects you. But the method of collective punishment is bigger than that.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Nadezhda Tolokonnikova"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadezhda-tolokonnikova/it-is-possible-to-tolerate-anything-as-long-as-it-only-affects-you/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Affects"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadezhda-tolokonnikova/it-is-possible-to-tolerate-anything-as-long-as-it-only-affects-you/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f8/nadezhda-tolokonnikova-24852_affects_it-is-possible-to-tolerate-anything-as-l_376460.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f8/nadezhda-tolokonnikova-24852_affects_it-is-possible-to-tolerate-anything-as-l_376460.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f8/nadezhda-tolokonnikova-24852_affects_it-is-possible-to-tolerate-anything-as-l_376460.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“It is possible to tolerate anything as long as it only affects you. But the method of collective punishment…” — Nadezhda Tolokonnikova",
                "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": "Nadezhda Tolokonnikova",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadezhda-tolokonnikova/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "It is possible to tolerate anything...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadezhda-tolokonnikova/it-is-possible-to-tolerate-anything-as-long-as-it-only-affects-you/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadezhda-tolokonnikova/it-is-possible-to-tolerate-anything-as-long-as-it-only-affects-you/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```