Those with the greatest awareness have the greatest nightmares.
The hardest metal yields to sufficient heat. Even so must the hardest heart melt before sufficiency of the heat of non- violence. And there is no limit to the capacity of non-violence to generate heat.
All good thoughts and ideas mean nothing without action.
Never has man reached his destination by persistence in deviation from the straight path.
Without action, you aren’t going anywhere.
Take care of this moment.
If an enemy strikes your left cheek, offer him your right.
It is necessary to correct the error that vegetarianism has made us weak in mind, or passive or inert in action. I do not regard flesh-food as necessary at any stage.
I still believe that man, not having been given the power of creation, does not posses the right of destroying the meanest creature that lives. The perogative of destruction belongs solely to the Creator of all that lives.
The ally we must cultivate is the part of our enemy which knows the truth.
The purpose of life is undoubtedly to know oneself. We cannot do it unless we learn to identify ourselves with all that lives. The sum-total of that life is God.
Civilization is that mode of conduct which points out to man the path of duty. Performance of duty and observance of morality are convertible terms. To observe morality is to attain mastery over our mind and our passions. So doing, we know ourselves.
I am a man of peace. I believe in peace. But I do not want peace at any price.
Truth and non-violence are not cloistered virtues but applicable as much in the forum and the legislatures as in the market place.
Once one assumes an attitude of intolerance, there is no knowing where it will take one. Intolerance, someone has said, is violence to the intellect and hatred is violence to the heart.
I contend that non-violent acts exert pressure far more effective than violent acts, for the pressure comes from goodwill and gentleness.
I believe that it is impossible to end hatred with hatred.
For me the present is merged in eternity. I may not sacrifice the latter for the present.
Truth quenches untruth, love quenches anger, self-suffering quenches violence. This eternal rule is a rule not for saints only but for all.
Abstract truth has no value unless it incarnates in human beings who represent it, by proving their readiness to die for it.