--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Civil disobedience is a viable political…" description: "\"Civil disobedience is a viable political tactic, and a non-violent tactic.\" — William Kunstler" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eff/william-kunstler-27644_civil-disobedience_civil-disobedience-is-a-viable-political_953069.jpg" --- # Civil disobedience is a viable political tactic, and a… ![“Civil disobedience is a viable political tactic, and a non-violent tactic.” quote by William Kunstler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eff/william-kunstler-27644_civil-disobedience_civil-disobedience-is-a-viable-political_953069.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eff/william-kunstler-27644_civil-disobedience_civil-disobedience-is-a-viable-political_953069.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eff/william-kunstler-27644_civil-disobedience_civil-disobedience-is-a-viable-political_953069.jpg) > “Civil disobedience is a viable political tactic, and a non-violent tactic.” [William Kunstler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kunstler/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Non‑violent resistance can be an effective political tool when peaceful and principled. **In simple terms:** Peaceful protest can work. Key Takeaway Use non‑violent tactics wisely. Themes political activism non‑violence civil rights Mood determined hopeful Type political activist When to use this quote - protest planning - community organizing - policy change - social movements Key Concepts strategic resistance ethical protest Questions to Reflect On - How can non‑violent tactics achieve lasting change? - When is civil disobedience justified? A Different Perspective Violent oppression may limit effectiveness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Civil disobedience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-disobedience/) [Disobedience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disobedience/) [Non violent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/non-violent/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Tactics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tactics/) [Violent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violent/) ## Related quotes > [The first principle of non-violent action is that of non-cooperation with everything humiliating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-chavez/the-first-principle-of-non-violent-action-is-that-of-non-cooperation/) [Cesar Chavez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-chavez/) > [I believe that Gandhi was correct. Non-violent civil disobedience is the only way to bring about change that allows people to enjoy the change…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-james-olmos/i-believe-that-gandhi-was-correct-non-violent-civil-disobedience-is/) [Edward James Olmos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-james-olmos/) > [I do believe that non-violent civil disobedience is a very important and useful tactic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cleve-jones/i-do-believe-that-non-violent-civil-disobedience-is-a-very-important/) [Cleve Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cleve-jones/) > [There is a vast need for all types of protest today, whether it be civil disobedience, or whether it be on a - more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kunstler/there-is-a-vast-need-for-all-types-of-protest-today-whether-it-be/) [William Kunstler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kunstler/) > [I favor massive civil disobedience, among other things. It is not the only thing that is used to protest any grievance in society. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kunstler/i-favor-massive-civil-disobedience-among-other-things-it-is-not-the/) [William Kunstler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kunstler/) > [In short, killing the goose that lays the golden egg is a viable political strategy, so long as the goose does not die before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/in-short-killing-the-goose-that-lays-the-golden-egg-is-a-viable/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [Chechens need to be able to develop their own viable political society and regional economy whether they remain part of Russia or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fiona-hill/chechens-need-to-be-able-to-develop-their-own-viable-political/) [Fiona Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fiona-hill/) > [It's a deft trick to turn American exceptionalism into an exceptional political tactic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-fournier/it-s-a-deft-trick-to-turn-american-exceptionalism-into-an-exceptional/) [Ron Fournier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-fournier/) > [Ascribing racial animus to people who are trying to safeguard democratic integrity is a crude yet effective political tactic that obscures the truth. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-meese/ascribing-racial-animus-to-people-who-are-trying-to-safeguard/) [Edwin Meese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-meese/) > [A time-tested political tactic guaranteed to raise a president's popularity rating by at least 30 points. It is especially useful during election years and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chaz-bufe/a-time-tested-political-tactic-guaranteed-to-raise-a-president-s/) [Chaz Bufe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chaz-bufe/) > [I don’t believe in eye-for-an-eye. The most incredible, sustainable, beautiful movements have been non-violent movements of civil disobedience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-page/i-don-t-believe-in-eye-for-an-eye-the-most-incredible-sustainable/) [Ellen Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-page/) > [Force that the performance of duty naturally generates is the non-violent and invincible force that satyagraha brings into being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/force-that-the-performance-of-duty-naturally-generates-is-the-non/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [When you say 'no' and you get on the streets and you do an act of civil disobedience, it changes your psychology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-bradbrook/when-you-say-no-and-you-get-on-the-streets-and-you-do-an-act-of-civil/) [Gail Bradbrook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-bradbrook/) > [The world - and America - has been defined by people who haven't necessarily abided by the laws and the rules. Civil disobedience is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-kennedy/the-world-and-america-has-been-defined-by-people-who-haven-t/) [Rory Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-kennedy/) > [ \[Putin\] is a bully. And bullies only understand when we punch them in the nose, but we need to do that economically. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-ayotte/putin-is-a-bully-and-bullies-only-understand-when-we-punch-them-in/) [Kelly Ayotte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-ayotte/) ## More by William Kunstler > [After years spent trying to deal with the effects of COINTELPRO, my rage at the FBI's almost unimaginable evil remains undiminished because I believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kunstler/after-years-spent-trying-to-deal-with-the-effects-of-cointelpro-my/) [William Kunstler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kunstler/) > [Four years earlier I had been selected, with Kay Boyle, the writer, and a number of others, to go to Cambodia and come back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kunstler/four-years-earlier-i-had-been-selected-with-kay-boyle-the-writer-and/) [William Kunstler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kunstler/) > [May 4th is a particularly memorable day in American history because 84 years to the day before May 4, 1970, there was another demonstration…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kunstler/may-4th-is-a-particularly-memorable-day-in-american-history-because/) [William Kunstler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kunstler/) > [At first blush, it seems that the young people who were shot down in the parking lot at the base of Blanket Hill gave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kunstler/at-first-blush-it-seems-that-the-young-people-who-were-shot-down-in/) [William Kunstler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kunstler/) > [So May 4th in the labor movement has always been an important date.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kunstler/so-may-4th-in-the-labor-movement-has-always-been-an-important-date/) [William Kunstler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kunstler/) > [When we talk about justice in America we're really talking about justice brought about by the people, not by judges who are tools of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kunstler/when-we-talk-about-justice-in-america-we-re-really-talking-about/) [William Kunstler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kunstler/) > [We have become the charnel house of the Western World.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kunstler/we-have-become-the-charnel-house-of-the-western-world/) [William Kunstler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kunstler/) > [On the unofficial level it was a glorious moment in our national life because young people decided that this had to stop, that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kunstler/on-the-unofficial-level-it-was-a-glorious-moment-in-our-national-life/) [William Kunstler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kunstler/) > [This is New York, and there's no law against being annoying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kunstler/this-is-new-york-and-there-s-no-law-against-being-annoying/) [William Kunstler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kunstler/) > [But he said Blanket Hill should be a national monument. And so we came out of his chambers feeling, though while we had lost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kunstler/but-he-said-blanket-hill-should-be-a-national-monument-and-so-we-came/) [William Kunstler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kunstler/) > [Once the troops move into Cambodia, the colleges and universities of this country were on the verge of civil war. Many closed down. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kunstler/once-the-troops-move-into-cambodia-the-colleges-and-universities-of/) [William Kunstler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kunstler/) > [I favor massive civil disobedience, among other things. It is not the only thing that is used to protest any grievance in society. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kunstler/i-favor-massive-civil-disobedience-among-other-things-it-is-not-the/) [William Kunstler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kunstler/) > [A dog is a liberal... He wants to please everybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kunstler/a-dog-is-a-liberal-he-wants-to-please-everybody/) [William Kunstler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kunstler/) > [A dog is like a liberal. He wants to please everybody. A cat really doesn't need to know that everybody loves him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kunstler/a-dog-is-like-a-liberal-he-wants-to-please-everybody-a-cat-really/) [William Kunstler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kunstler/) > [There is a vast need for all types of protest today, whether it be civil disobedience, or whether it be on a - more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kunstler/there-is-a-vast-need-for-all-types-of-protest-today-whether-it-be/) [William Kunstler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kunstler/) [Explore all 20 William Kunstler quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kunstler/) ## More Civil disobedience quotes > [ \[Putin\] is a bully. And bullies only understand when we punch them in the nose, but we need to do that economically. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-ayotte/putin-is-a-bully-and-bullies-only-understand-when-we-punch-them-in/) [Kelly Ayotte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-ayotte/) > [The world - and America - has been defined by people who haven't necessarily abided by the laws and the rules. Civil disobedience is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-kennedy/the-world-and-america-has-been-defined-by-people-who-haven-t/) [Rory Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-kennedy/) > [When you say 'no' and you get on the streets and you do an act of civil disobedience, it changes your psychology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-bradbrook/when-you-say-no-and-you-get-on-the-streets-and-you-do-an-act-of-civil/) [Gail Bradbrook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-bradbrook/) > [There is all the difference in the world between the criminal's avoiding the public eye and the civil disobedience's taking the law into his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-arendt/there-is-all-the-difference-in-the-world-between-the-criminal-s/) [Hannah Arendt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-arendt/) > [Racial discrimination in elections in Texas is no mere historical artifact. To the contrary, Texas has been found in violation of the Voting Rights…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/racial-discrimination-in-elections-in-texas-is-no-mere-historical/) [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) > [My first civil disobedience arrest for social justice was in 1986 for protesting the SDI.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-sheen/my-first-civil-disobedience-arrest-for-social-justice-was-in-1986-for/) [Martin Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-sheen/) > [Even here in America, we felt the cool, refreshing breeze of freedom when Nelson Mandela took the seat of Presidency in his country where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/even-here-in-america-we-felt-the-cool-refreshing-breeze-of-freedom/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [Civil disobedience is a stimulation for the fighters and a challenge to the opponent, in the present instance, authority.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/civil-disobedience-is-a-stimulation-for-the-fighters-and-a-challenge/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [“The only word these corporations know is more,” wrote Chris Hedges, former correspondent for the Christian Science Monitor, National Public Radio, and the New York…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-marrs/the-only-word-these-corporations-know-is-more-wrote-chris-hedges/) [Jim Marrs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-marrs/) > [A wise man will not leave the right to the mercy of chance, nor wish it to prevail through the power of the majority.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/a-wise-man-will-not-leave-the-right-to-the-mercy-of-chance-nor-wish/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I became convinced that noncooperation with evil is as much a moral obligation as is cooperation with good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/i-became-convinced-that-noncooperation-with-evil-is-as-much-a-moral/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [New concepts should be introduced by the power of imagery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coop/new-concepts-should-be-introduced-by-the-power-of-imagery/) Douglas Coop > [Civil disobedience can help to focus attention on a particular injustice. It was used historically to highlight wrongs in society - turning ancient redwood…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-brune/civil-disobedience-can-help-to-focus-attention-on-a-particular/) [Michael Brune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-brune/) > [I see a lot of individual action when it comes to environmental questions really as a form of politics as a way of communicating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-jamieson/i-see-a-lot-of-individual-action-when-it-comes-to-environmental/) [Dale Jamieson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-jamieson/) > [“Our legislators have not yet learned the comparative value of free-trade and of freedom, of union, and of rectitude, to a nation. They have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/our-legislators-have-not-yet-learned-the-comparative-value-of-free/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) [Browse all 248 Civil disobedience quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-disobedience/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Civil disobedience is a viable political tactic, and a non-violent tactic.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "William Kunstler" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kunstler/civil-disobedience-is-a-viable-political-tactic-and-a-non-violent/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Civil disobedience" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kunstler/civil-disobedience-is-a-viable-political-tactic-and-a-non-violent/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eff/william-kunstler-27644_civil-disobedience_civil-disobedience-is-a-viable-political_953069.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eff/william-kunstler-27644_civil-disobedience_civil-disobedience-is-a-viable-political_953069.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eff/william-kunstler-27644_civil-disobedience_civil-disobedience-is-a-viable-political_953069.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Civil disobedience is a viable political tactic, and a non-violent tactic.” — William Kunstler", "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": "William Kunstler", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kunstler/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Civil disobedience is a viable political...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kunstler/civil-disobedience-is-a-viable-political-tactic-and-a-non-violent/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kunstler/civil-disobedience-is-a-viable-political-tactic-and-a-non-violent/#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 } } ] } ```