Guile Quote by Thornton Wilder
““Guile is the shield and spear of the oppressed.””
About This Quote
Source Play: The Matchmaker, 1955
The oppressed use both defense and offense, symbolized by a shield and spear, to resist domination.
In simple terms: Oppressed use defense and attack to resist.
Key Takeaway
Combine protection with action.
Themes
resistance
oppression
strategy
Mood
strategic
empowering
Type
political
inspirational
When to use this quote
- protests
- community organizing
- advocacy
Key Concepts
social movements
power dynamics
Questions to Reflect On
- What nonviolent shields can be used?
- How to balance defense and offense?
A Different Perspective
Violence may alienate allies.
![“In practice [monetary management] is merely a high-sounding euphemism for continuous currency debasement. It consists of constant lying in order to support constant swindling. Instead of automatic currencies based on gold, people are forced to take managed currencies based on guile. Instead of…” quote by Henry Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c76/henry-hazlitt-2839_assured_in-practice-monetary-management-is-merel_416996.jpg)
![“Women have tongues of craft, and hearts of guile, They will, they will not; fools that on them trust; For in their speech is death, hell in their smile. [It., Femmina e cosa garrula e fallace: Vuole e disvuole, e folle uom chi sen fida, Si tra se volge.]” quote by Torquato Tasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/39c/torquato-tasso-21954_communication_women-have-tongues-of-craft-and-hearts-o_782153.jpg)
