--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Not fighting is as good as treason, isn't…" description: "\"“Not fighting is as good as treason, isn't it?”\" — Naguib Mahfouz" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/219/naguib-mahfouz-4982_intelligence_not-fighting-is-as-good-as-treason-isn-t_1141682.jpg" --- # Not fighting is as good as treason, isn't it? ![“Not fighting is as good as treason, isn't it?” quote by Naguib Mahfouz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/219/naguib-mahfouz-4982_intelligence_not-fighting-is-as-good-as-treason-isn-t_1141682.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/219/naguib-mahfouz-4982_intelligence_not-fighting-is-as-good-as-treason-isn-t_1141682.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/219/naguib-mahfouz-4982_intelligence_not-fighting-is-as-good-as-treason-isn-t_1141682.jpg) > ““Not fighting is as good as treason, isn't it?”” [Naguib Mahfouz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naguib-mahfouz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He questions whether not fighting is equivalent to treason, implying moral duty to act. **In simple terms:** Inaction can be seen as betrayal of principles. Key Takeaway Consider when silence becomes complicity. Themes morality politics activism Mood philosophical provocative Type ethical political When to use this quote - protests - whistleblowing - community organizing Key Concepts ethical duty civic responsibility political theory Questions to Reflect On - When is silence a moral choice? - How do you balance safety with speaking out? A Different Perspective Passive resistance may be justified in certain contexts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Intelligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligence/) [Treason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/treason/) ## Related quotes > [I believe in life and in people. I feel obliged to advocate their highest ideals as long as I believe them to be true.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naguib-mahfouz/i-believe-in-life-and-in-people-i-feel-obliged-to-advocate-their/) [Naguib Mahfouz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naguib-mahfouz/) > [Don't give up on everything in life just because of a few bad things. If you keep fighting good things will happen to you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/don-t-give-up-on-everything-in-life-just-because-of-a-few-bad-things/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [It really is the relationship you have with your self that presents the key to the “kingdom”, so to speak... Fighting is good, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ruffalo/it-really-is-the-relationship-you-have-with-your-self-that-presents/) [Mark Ruffalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ruffalo/) > [“Things get really dangerous when we start saying I’m the good one and you’re the bad one. What happens in our world is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-r-melling/things-get-really-dangerous-when-we-start-saying-i-m-the-good-one-and/) [O.R. Melling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-r-melling/) > [“No matter what, I am not giving up - I am not giving up on this world. Because among all the planets across 2…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/no-matter-what-i-am-not-giving-up-i-am-not-giving-up-on-this-world/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [I will do everything in my power to make sure people are aware that our team is out there fighting the good fight for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-courier/i-will-do-everything-in-my-power-to-make-sure-people-are-aware-that/) [Jim Courier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-courier/) > [While it's a shame that more businessmen like Andy Puzder aren't helping to form America's economic policy, at least he's still on the field…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-conard/while-it-s-a-shame-that-more-businessmen-like-andy-puzder-aren-t/) [Edward Conard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-conard/) > [I believe that my father has become an ongoing symbol of what it means to keep on fighting for what is good in oneself,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-biden/i-believe-that-my-father-has-become-an-ongoing-symbol-of-what-it/) [Hunter Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-biden/) > [It makes sense for people who are good at fighting to go out and do it-because if they're good at it, that means the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercedes-lackey/it-makes-sense-for-people-who-are-good-at-fighting-to-go-out-and-do/) [Mercedes Lackey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercedes-lackey/) > [If I'm not fighting for a good reason, then your personal life starts to get messy, and it's like, 'What am I doing this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-namajunas/if-i-m-not-fighting-for-a-good-reason-then-your-personal-life-starts/) [Rose Namajunas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-namajunas/) > [Fearless people are always ready to die for a cause. Make sure you're fighting for a good cause.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/fearless-people-are-always-ready-to-die-for-a-cause-make-sure-you-re/) [Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/) > [Certainly, my father would not want to see me destroy myself in this business, as so many people in our family have been destroyed.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-sheppard/certainly-my-father-would-not-want-to-see-me-destroy-myself-in-this/) [Sam Sheppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-sheppard/) > [Bad things have happened to you, but if you keep fighting good things will happen to you too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/bad-things-have-happened-to-you-but-if-you-keep-fighting-good-things/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [“Fighting the good fight is not as easy when you’re fighting alone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-ambu/fighting-the-good-fight-is-not-as-easy-when-you-re-fighting-alone/) [Joan Ambu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-ambu/) > [I think the NAACP isn't recognized enough for all of the work it does, especially in the field of law. They may have faded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tayari-jones/i-think-the-naacp-isn-t-recognized-enough-for-all-of-the-work-it-does/) [Tayari Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tayari-jones/) ## More by Naguib Mahfouz > [Writing is for men who can think and feel, not mindless sensation seekers out of nightclubs and bars. But these are bad times. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naguib-mahfouz/writing-is-for-men-who-can-think-and-feel-not-mindless-sensation/) [Naguib Mahfouz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naguib-mahfouz/) > [He seemed to be waiting for a miracle to save him from the depths his life had reached and take him to a land…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naguib-mahfouz/he-seemed-to-be-waiting-for-a-miracle-to-save-him-from-the-depths-his/) [Naguib Mahfouz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naguib-mahfouz/) > [I thought they would never select an Eastern writer for the Nobel. I was surprised.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naguib-mahfouz/i-thought-they-would-never-select-an-eastern-writer-for-the-nobel-i/) [Naguib Mahfouz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naguib-mahfouz/) > [Happy is he who can give himself up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naguib-mahfouz/happy-is-he-who-can-give-himself-up/) [Naguib Mahfouz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naguib-mahfouz/) > [We wont develop until we accept that reading is a vital necessity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naguib-mahfouz/we-wont-develop-until-we-accept-that-reading-is-a-vital-necessity/) [Naguib Mahfouz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naguib-mahfouz/) > [The Arab world also won the Nobel with me. I believe that international doors have opened, and that from now on, literate people will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naguib-mahfouz/the-arab-world-also-won-the-nobel-with-me-i-believe-that/) [Naguib Mahfouz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naguib-mahfouz/) > [I am the son of two civilizations that at a certain age in history have formed a happy marriage. The first of these, seven…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naguib-mahfouz/i-am-the-son-of-two-civilizations-that-at-a-certain-age-in-history/) [Naguib Mahfouz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naguib-mahfouz/) > [God did not intend religion to be an exercise club.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naguib-mahfouz/god-did-not-intend-religion-to-be-an-exercise-club/) [Naguib Mahfouz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naguib-mahfouz/) > [If life has no meaning, why don't we create a meaning for it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naguib-mahfouz/if-life-has-no-meaning-why-don-t-we-create-a-meaning-for-it/) [Naguib Mahfouz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naguib-mahfouz/) > [I accepted the interviews and encounters that had to be held with the media, but I would have preferred to work in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naguib-mahfouz/i-accepted-the-interviews-and-encounters-that-had-to-be-held-with-the/) [Naguib Mahfouz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naguib-mahfouz/) > [Events at home, at work, in the street - these are the bases for a story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naguib-mahfouz/events-at-home-at-work-in-the-street-these-are-the-bases-for-a-story/) [Naguib Mahfouz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naguib-mahfouz/) > [Today's interpretations of religion are often backward and contradict the needs of civilization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naguib-mahfouz/today-s-interpretations-of-religion-are-often-backward-and-contradict/) [Naguib Mahfouz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naguib-mahfouz/) > [I am practically in the employ of Mr. Nobel. I have to meet everyone he sends my way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naguib-mahfouz/i-am-practically-in-the-employ-of-mr-nobel-i-have-to-meet-everyone-he/) [Naguib Mahfouz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naguib-mahfouz/) > [I reject any path which rejects life, but I can't help loving Sufism because it sounds so beautiful. It gives relief in the midst…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naguib-mahfouz/i-reject-any-path-which-rejects-life-but-i-can-t-help-loving-sufism/) [Naguib Mahfouz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naguib-mahfouz/) > [At my age it is unseemly to be pessimistic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naguib-mahfouz/at-my-age-it-is-unseemly-to-be-pessimistic/) [Naguib Mahfouz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naguib-mahfouz/) [Explore all 100 Naguib Mahfouz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naguib-mahfouz/) ## More Fighting quotes > [I was 3-years-old - to this day it is a vivid memory. My family and I were on a boat, catching fish. As one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-phoenix/i-was-3-years-old-to-this-day-it-is-a-vivid-memory-my-family-and-i/) [Joaquin Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-phoenix/) > [“I bet she thought she was getting into a fight with a vanilla wafer on roller skates but little did she know she was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-portes/i-bet-she-thought-she-was-getting-into-a-fight-with-a-vanilla-wafer/) [Andrea Portes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-portes/) > [Women still, when they have breast cancer, go to work; they still lead their lives. They have to. I just did what I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-potter/women-still-when-they-have-breast-cancer-go-to-work-they-still-lead/) [Monica Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-potter/) > [We could form a government of national unity fighting corruption. The ordinary Afghan is sick and tired of it, because it's she or he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashraf-ghani/we-could-form-a-government-of-national-unity-fighting-corruption-the/) [Ashraf Ghani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashraf-ghani/) > [In the fight between biology and morality, biology has commonly won in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/semir-zeki/in-the-fight-between-biology-and-morality-biology-has-commonly-won-in/) [Semir Zeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/semir-zeki/) > [You have to fight gravity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwin-wine/you-have-to-fight-gravity/) [Sherwin Wine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwin-wine/) > [Television, radio, social media. The 24/7 news cycle plows forward mercilessly on our desks, in our cars and in our pockets. Thousands and thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-prince/television-radio-social-media-the-24-7-news-cycle-plows-forward/) [Joseph Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-prince/) > [The only regret I have in my career, is my managers wanted a big payday, and I wanted four or five more fights before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-cooney/the-only-regret-i-have-in-my-career-is-my-managers-wanted-a-big/) [Gerry Cooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-cooney/) > [Women rule the world. It's not really worth fighting because they know what they're doing. Ask Napoleon. Ask Adam. Ask Richard Burton or Richie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-bon-jovi/women-rule-the-world-it-s-not-really-worth-fighting-because-they-know/) [Jon Bon Jovi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-bon-jovi/) > [Well, He had known what love was-a sharp pang, a fierce experience, in the midst of whose flames he was struggling! but, through that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/well-he-had-known-what-love-was-a-sharp-pang-a-fierce-experience-in/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [It is sort of interesting that in our society this days we are very quick to apply the term 'war' to places where thare…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-schneier/it-is-sort-of-interesting-that-in-our-society-this-days-we-are-very/) [Bruce Schneier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-schneier/) > [Someone else who liked what I did might turn around and say, "She's reworking and rethinking everything. She could just be making blankets now,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/someone-else-who-liked-what-i-did-might-turn-around-and-say-she-s/) [Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) > [Life is a battle of wits, and many people have to fight it unarmed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-esar/life-is-a-battle-of-wits-and-many-people-have-to-fight-it-unarmed/) [Evan Esar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-esar/) > [The devil has been defeated, stop trying to defeat him. What we have left is the fight of faith, and it's a good fight!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-oyakhilome/the-devil-has-been-defeated-stop-trying-to-defeat-him-what-we-have/) [Chris Oyakhilome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-oyakhilome/) > [There comes a time when you're losing a fight that it just doesn't make sense to keep on fighting. It's not that you're being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paul-curtis/there-comes-a-time-when-you-re-losing-a-fight-that-it-just-doesn-t/) [Christopher Paul Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paul-curtis/) Browse all 13,685 Fighting quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Not fighting is as good as treason, isn't it?”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Naguib Mahfouz" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naguib-mahfouz/not-fighting-is-as-good-as-treason-isn-t-it/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Fighting" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naguib-mahfouz/not-fighting-is-as-good-as-treason-isn-t-it/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/219/naguib-mahfouz-4982_intelligence_not-fighting-is-as-good-as-treason-isn-t_1141682.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/219/naguib-mahfouz-4982_intelligence_not-fighting-is-as-good-as-treason-isn-t_1141682.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/219/naguib-mahfouz-4982_intelligence_not-fighting-is-as-good-as-treason-isn-t_1141682.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Not fighting is as good as treason, isn't it?” — Naguib Mahfouz", "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": "Naguib Mahfouz", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naguib-mahfouz/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Not fighting is as good as...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naguib-mahfouz/not-fighting-is-as-good-as-treason-isn-t-it/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naguib-mahfouz/not-fighting-is-as-good-as-treason-isn-t-it/#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 } } ] } ```