--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When struck on one cheek to turn the…" description: "\"When struck on one cheek to turn the other, is really joining a conspiracy to secure the triumph of brutality. To agree not to resist evil is to become..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95a/robert-green-ingersoll-361_accomplices_when-struck-on-one-cheek-to-turn-the-oth_435577.png" --- # When struck on one cheek to turn the other, is really… ![“When struck on one cheek to turn the other, is really joining a conspiracy to secure the triumph of brutality. To agree not to resist evil is to become an accomplice of all injustice.” quote by Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95a/robert-green-ingersoll-361_accomplices_when-struck-on-one-cheek-to-turn-the-oth_435577.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95a/robert-green-ingersoll-361_accomplices_when-struck-on-one-cheek-to-turn-the-oth_435577.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95a/robert-green-ingersoll-361_accomplices_when-struck-on-one-cheek-to-turn-the-oth_435577.png) > “When struck on one cheek to turn the other, is really joining a conspiracy to secure the triumph of brutality. To agree not to resist evil is to become an accomplice of all injustice.” [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Resisting evil by not fighting back makes one complicit in oppression and cruelty. **In simple terms:** Not fighting back helps evil. Key Takeaway Stand up against injustice. Themes ethics justice nonviolence complicity Mood determined serious Type ethical political When to use this quote - activism - legal reform - personal safety - community defense Key Concepts Moral philosophy civil responsibility Questions to Reflect On - When is passive resistance justified? - How can one protect self while opposing evil? A Different Perspective Nonviolent resistance can still enable oppression if not strategic. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brutality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brutality/) [Conspiracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conspiracy/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Injustice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/injustice/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Triumph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/triumph/) ## Related quotes > [To ignore evil is to become an accomplice to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/to-ignore-evil-is-to-become-an-accomplice-to-it/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [However, some things must be said, and there are times when silence becomes an accomplice to injustice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayaan-hirsi-ali/however-some-things-must-be-said-and-there-are-times-when-silence/) [Ayaan Hirsi Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayaan-hirsi-ali/) > [“There are times when silence becomes an accomplice to injustice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayaan-hirsi-ali/there-are-times-when-silence-becomes-an-accomplice-to-injustice/) [Ayaan Hirsi Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayaan-hirsi-ali/) > [And yet this same Deity says to me, resist not evil; pray for those that despitefully use you; love your enemies, but I will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/and-yet-this-same-deity-says-to-me-resist-not-evil-pray-for-those/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [Bind to you friends of your own kind, friends who will encourage you, stand with you, live as you desire to live, who will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/bind-to-you-friends-of-your-own-kind-friends-who-will-encourage-you/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [We are up against the unseen power that controls this dark world and the spiritual agents are from the very headquarters of evil. Therefore,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corrie-ten-boom/we-are-up-against-the-unseen-power-that-controls-this-dark-world-and/) [Corrie Ten Boom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corrie-ten-boom/) > [To overcome evil with good is good, to resist evil with evil is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nazr-mohammed/to-overcome-evil-with-good-is-good-to-resist-evil-with-evil-is-evil/) [Nazr Mohammed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nazr-mohammed/) > [“To resist evil is to stand firm against the wrong committed without reacting to the wrong-doer!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evinda-lepins/to-resist-evil-is-to-stand-firm-against-the-wrong-committed-without/) [Evinda Lepins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evinda-lepins/) > [The power of good is shown not by triumphantly conquering evil, but by continuing to resist evil while facing certain defeat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-hamilton/the-power-of-good-is-shown-not-by-triumphantly-conquering-evil-but-by/) [Edith Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-hamilton/) > [Resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bible/resist-not-evil-but-whosoever-shall-smite-thee-on-thy-right-cheek/) [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bible/) > [“This is why you must take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-moore/this-is-why-you-must-take-up-the-full-armor-of-god-so-that-you-may-be/) [Beth Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-moore/) > [But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps your right check, turn the other to him also.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-i-tell-you-not-to-resist-an-evil-person-but-whoever-slaps-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Christ said, "Resist not evil", and we do not understand it until we discover that it is not only moral but actually the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/christ-said-resist-not-evil-and-we-do-not-understand-it-until-we/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Did not Jesus say, resist not evil — with evil? Is not war the worst form of that evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-parker/did-not-jesus-say-resist-not-evil-with-evil-is-not-war-the-worst-form/) [Theodore Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-parker/) > [Do not resist the evil-doer and take no part in doing so, either in the violent deeds of the administration, in the law courts,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/do-not-resist-the-evil-doer-and-take-no-part-in-doing-so-either-in/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) ## More by Robert Green Ingersoll > [Our hope of immortality does not come from any religions, but nearly all religions come from that hope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/our-hope-of-immortality-does-not-come-from-any-religions-but-nearly/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [If, with all the time at my disposal, with all the wealth of the resources of this vast universe, to do with as I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/if-with-all-the-time-at-my-disposal-with-all-the-wealth-of-the/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [Honest investigation is utterly impossible within the pale of any church, for the reason, that if you think the church is right you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/honest-investigation-is-utterly-impossible-within-the-pale-of-any/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [I read the other day an account of a meeting between John Knox and John Calvin. Imagine a dialogue between a pestilence and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/i-read-the-other-day-an-account-of-a-meeting-between-john-knox-and/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [Shakespeare has done far more for the world than the Bible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/shakespeare-has-done-far-more-for-the-world-than-the-bible/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [Every man who expresses an honest thought is a soldier in the army of intellectual liberty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/every-man-who-expresses-an-honest-thought-is-a-soldier-in-the-army-of/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [Liberty is the condition of progress. Without Liberty, there remains only barbarism. Without Liberty, there can be no civilization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/liberty-is-the-condition-of-progress-without-liberty-there-remains/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [It has been said that a man of genius should select his ancestors with great care - and yet there does not seem to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/it-has-been-said-that-a-man-of-genius-should-select-his-ancestors/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [When passions and appetites are stronger than the intellect, men are savages; when the intellect governs the passions, when the passions are servants, men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/when-passions-and-appetites-are-stronger-than-the-intellect-men-are/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [In spite of my surroundings, of my education, I had no love for God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/in-spite-of-my-surroundings-of-my-education-i-had-no-love-for-god/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [The combined wisdom and genius of all mankind cannot possibly conceive of an argument against liberty of thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/the-combined-wisdom-and-genius-of-all-mankind-cannot-possibly/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [Calvin founded a little theocracy, modeled after the Old Testament, and succeeded in erecting the most detestable government that ever existed, except the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/calvin-founded-a-little-theocracy-modeled-after-the-old-testament-and/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [I do not believe in loving enemies; I have pretty hard work to love my friends. Neither do I believe in revenge. No man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/i-do-not-believe-in-loving-enemies-i-have-pretty-hard-work-to-love-my/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [What is it that distinguishes you and me from the lower animals - from the beasts? More, I say, than anything else, human sympathy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/what-is-it-that-distinguishes-you-and-me-from-the-lower-animals-from/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [The literature of many lands is rich with the tributes that gratitude, admiration and love have paid to the great and honored dead. These…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/the-literature-of-many-lands-is-rich-with-the-tributes-that-gratitude/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) [Explore all 640 Robert Green Ingersoll quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) ## More Accomplices quotes > [It takes little or nothing to undo reputations, the merest trifle makes and remakes them, it is simply a question of finding the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/it-takes-little-or-nothing-to-undo-reputations-the-merest-trifle/) [Jose Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) > [Americans will not allow any Islamic regime to reach the position of governance except if it is an accomplice to the Americans, just like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayman-al-zawahiri/americans-will-not-allow-any-islamic-regime-to-reach-the-position-of/) Ayman al-Zawahiri > [And this is the forbidden truth, the unspeakable taboo - that evil is not always repellent but frequently attractive; that it has the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/and-this-is-the-forbidden-truth-the-unspeakable-taboo-that-evil-is/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) > [Insecurity is miserable. That's the bottom line. We don't need it. We don't want it. And we really can live without it. So what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-moore/insecurity-is-miserable-that-s-the-bottom-line-we-don-t-need-it-we/) [Beth Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-moore/) > [An American professor complained that a crypto-Marxist like me was invited in the USA, and I was denounced by the press in Eastern European…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-foucault/an-american-professor-complained-that-a-crypto-marxist-like-me-was/) [Michel Foucault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-foucault/) > [And the past held only this wisdom: that love was a damaging mistake, and its accomplice, hope, a treacherous illusion. And whenever those twin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khaled-hosseini/and-the-past-held-only-this-wisdom-that-love-was-a-damaging-mistake-2/) [Khaled Hosseini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khaled-hosseini/) > [You're only a victim once. The next time you're an accomplice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-judd/you-re-only-a-victim-once-the-next-time-you-re-an-accomplice/) [Naomi Judd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-judd/) > [Then one day I realized that a false picture of the German camps had been created and that the problem of the concentration camps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-rassinier/then-one-day-i-realized-that-a-false-picture-of-the-german-camps-had/) Paul Rassinier > [And what is an authentic madman? It is a man who preferred to become mad, in the socially accepted sense of the word, rather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-artaud/and-what-is-an-authentic-madman-it-is-a-man-who-preferred-to-become/) [Antonin Artaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-artaud/) > [The injustice of defeat lies in the fact that its most innocent victims are made to look like heartless accomplices. 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