--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Nonviolence seeks to ‘win’ not by…" description: "\"Nonviolence seeks to ‘win’ not by destroying or even by humiliating the adversary, but by convincing [the adversary] that there is a higher and more ce..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c1/thomas-merton-231_adversaries_nonviolence-seeks-to-win-not-by-destroyi_1276480.jpg" --- # Nonviolence seeks to ‘win’ not by destroying or even by… ![“Nonviolence seeks to ‘win’ not by destroying or even by humiliating the adversary, but by convincing [the adversary] that there is a higher and more certain common good than can be attained by bombs and blood. Nonviolence, ideally speaking, does not try to overcome the adversary by winning over…” quote by Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c1/thomas-merton-231_adversaries_nonviolence-seeks-to-win-not-by-destroyi_1276480.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c1/thomas-merton-231_adversaries_nonviolence-seeks-to-win-not-by-destroyi_1276480.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c1/thomas-merton-231_adversaries_nonviolence-seeks-to-win-not-by-destroyi_1276480.jpg) > “Nonviolence seeks to ‘win’ not by destroying or even by humiliating the adversary, but by convincing \[the adversary\] that there is a higher and more certain common good than can be attained by bombs and blood. Nonviolence, ideally speaking, does not try to overcome the adversary by winning over \[them\], but to turn \[them\] from an adversary into a collaborator by winning \[them\] over.” [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Nonviolence aims to achieve shared goals by persuading opponents to see a higher common good, turning conflict into cooperation rather than defeat. **In simple terms:** Nonviolence turns enemies into partners through shared values. Key Takeaway Seek common ground, not domination. Themes peace conflict resolution social justice collaboration Mood hopeful determined reflective Type philosophical inspirational strategic When to use this quote - activism - community organizing - peace negotiations - education programs Key Concepts ethical persuasion shared humanity transformative action Questions to Reflect On - How can you identify a higher common good in a dispute? - What strategies turn opposition into partnership? A Different Perspective May be ineffective against ruthless regimes that reject dialogue. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adversaries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adversaries/) [Adversary Winning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adversary-winning-4109991/) [Blood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blood/) [Blood Nonviolence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blood-nonviolence-4109989/) [Bombs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bombs/) [Certain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certain/) [Collaborators](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/collaborators/) [Common](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common/) [Common good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common-good/) [Convincing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/convincing/) [Destroying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destroying/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Higher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/higher/) [Humiliating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humiliating/) [Nonviolence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nonviolence/) [Nonviolence Ideally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nonviolence-ideally-4109988/) [Nonviolence Seeks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nonviolence-seeks-4109987/) [Overcome Adversary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overcome-adversary-4109990/) [Overcoming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overcoming/) [Peacebuilding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peacebuilding/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Turns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turns/) [Winning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winning/) ## Related quotes > [The method of nonviolence seeks not to humiliate and not to defeat the oppressor, but it seeks to win his friendship and his understanding.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/the-method-of-nonviolence-seeks-not-to-humiliate-and-not-to-defeat/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [ \[nonviolence\] seeks to secure moral ends through moral means. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/nonviolence-seeks-to-secure-moral-ends-through-moral-means/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [I think the power of the short film is incredibly underrated. 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You want to empower your actors as collaborators.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-levy/why-hire-these-geniuses-if-they-re-forced-to-stick-with-the-script/) [Shawn Levy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-levy/) > [Spending a lot of time in London not only gave me inspiration, but also the opportunity to meet in person some great collaborators, who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santhosh-narayanan/spending-a-lot-of-time-in-london-not-only-gave-me-inspiration-but/) [Santhosh Narayanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santhosh-narayanan/) > [With the exceptional talent that is Guy Sigsworth as producer and collaborator, we have recorded a collection of original songs that sees me moving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-moyet/with-the-exceptional-talent-that-is-guy-sigsworth-as-producer-and/) [Alison Moyet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-moyet/) > [Even though I design my own jewelry, one of the great things about my job is being able to bring in really talented collaborators.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monika-chiang/even-though-i-design-my-own-jewelry-one-of-the-great-things-about-my/) [Monika Chiang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monika-chiang/) > [With every script, I write a note to my collaborator that says: 'I write full script. But see it as a guide. You take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-michael-bendis/with-every-script-i-write-a-note-to-my-collaborator-that-says-i-write/) [Brian Michael Bendis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-michael-bendis/) > [It was astonishing when at one point, I got the idea of how to make artifical clouds with a collaborator, we had pictures made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benoit-mandelbrot/it-was-astonishing-when-at-one-point-i-got-the-idea-of-how-to-make/) [Benoit Mandelbrot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benoit-mandelbrot/) > [“Well it's not possible to win this kind of thing. This is a continuous striving that people have done for a long time. Of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-assange/well-it-s-not-possible-to-win-this-kind-of-thing-this-is-a-continuous/) [Julian Assange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-assange/) > [Even if a civil society were to be dissolved by the consent of all its members (e.g., if a people inhabiting an island decided…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-kant/even-if-a-civil-society-were-to-be-dissolved-by-the-consent-of-all/) [Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/) ## More by Thomas Merton > [“Let no one hope to find in contemplation an escape from conflict, from anguish or from doubt. 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The rigidity of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/the-mission-of-christian-humility-in-social-life-is-not-merely-to/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [Peace cannot be built on exclusivism, absolutism, and intolerance. But neither can it be built on vague liberal slogans and pious programs gestated in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/peace-cannot-be-built-on-exclusivism-absolutism-and-intolerance-but/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [Things that are good are good, and if one is responding to that goodness one is in contact with a truth from which one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/things-that-are-good-are-good-and-if-one-is-responding-to-that/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [Love winter when the plant says nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/love-winter-when-the-plant-says-nothing/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [The logic of worldly success rests on a fallacy: the strange error that our perfection depends on the thoughts and opinions and applause of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/the-logic-of-worldly-success-rests-on-a-fallacy-the-strange-error/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [“The wisdom of the flesh is a judgement that the ordinary ends of our natural appetites are the goods to which the whole of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/the-wisdom-of-the-flesh-is-a-judgement-that-the-ordinary-ends-of-our/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [I will no longer wound myself with the thoughts and questions that have surrounded me like thorns: that is a penance You do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/i-will-no-longer-wound-myself-with-the-thoughts-and-questions-that/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [If you write for God you will reach many men and bring them joy. 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A ship has a legal personality, a fiction found useful for maritime purposes. The corporation sole -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-o-douglas/inanimate-objects-are-sometimes-parties-to-litigation-a-ship-has-a/) [William O. Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-o-douglas/) > [There were various aspects of Sun Tzu's approach that appealed to Ho Chi Minh: a) to learn to understand both the enemy and yourself,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-duiker/there-were-various-aspects-of-sun-tzu-s-approach-that-appealed-to-ho/) [William J. Duiker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-duiker/) > [Marriage, in my view, should be a balanced stalemate between equal adversaries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/marriage-in-my-view-should-be-a-balanced-stalemate-between-equal/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If an adversary didn't target our power plants but they did target the core routers, the backbones that tie our internet connections together, entire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/if-an-adversary-didn-t-target-our-power-plants-but-they-did-target/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [It's like I'm married to the silencer, Until I file for divorce and release my ex-calibers. 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They can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallin-h-oaks/we-should-seek-after-spiritual-gifts-they-can-lead-us-to-god-they-can/) [Dallin H. Oaks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallin-h-oaks/) [Browse all 446 Adversaries quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adversaries/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Nonviolence seeks to ‘win’ not by destroying or even by humiliating the adversary, but by convincing [the adversary] that there is a higher and more certain common good than can be attained by bombs and blood. 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