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Mahatma Gandhi

Mahatma Gandhi Quotes

Civil rights leader

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Famous Mahatma Gandhi Quotes

“Celebration of Independence Day with great pomp and show was quite appropriate when we were fighting for independence which we had neither seen nor handled. Now we have handled it and we seem to be disillusioned. At least - I am, even if you are not. What are we celebrating today? Surely, not our disillusionment.”

IfsShowsSeemsTodayFightingIndependenceCelebrateHypocrisyAppropriateCelebrationDisillusionmentIndependence DayDisillusioned
Author:Mahatma Gandhi
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“I am not conscious of a single experience throughout my three months' stay in England and Europe that made me feel that after all East is East and West is West. On the contrary, I have been convinced more than ever that human nature is much the same, no matter under what clime it flourishes, and that if you approached people with trust and affection you would have ten-fold trust and thousand-fold affection returned to you.”

PeopleIfsFeelsHumansHas BeensMadeMatterThreeHuman NatureTrustMonthsThousandTenConsciousEuropeEnglandWestAffectionEastConvincedContraryFoldsThree MonthsEast And West
Book:The Essential Gandhi: An Anthology of His Writings on His Life, Work, and Ideas
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“H. G. Wells was not the only one to mention Churchill and Hitler in the same breath: "Churchill and Hitler are striving to change the nature of their respective countrymen by forcing and hammering violent methods on them. Man may be suppressed in this manner but he cannot be changed. Ahimsa [non-violence in the Hindu tradition], on the other hand, can change human nature and sooner than men like Churchill and Hitler."”

MenHumansWellsMayHandsViolenceHuman NatureChangedTraditionBreathsMethodStriveViolentNon ViolenceCountrymenAhimsa
Author:Mahatma Gandhi
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“I do believe that, where there is only a choice between cowardice and violence, I would advise violence. I would rather have India resort to arms in order to defend her honour than that she should, in a cowardly manner, become or remain a helpless witness to her own dishonour. But I believe that nonviolence is infinitely superior to violence, forgiveness is more manly than punishment.”

ShouldBelieveOrderChoicesI BelieveViolenceArmsIndiaPunishmentSuperiorsWitnessRevolutionaryHonourCowardiceNonviolenceHelplessResortsAdviseCowardlyManlyViolence And PeaceDishonour
Book:Soul Force: Gandhi's Writings on Peace
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“I have been repeating over and over again that he who cannot protect himself or his nearest and dearest or their honour by non-violently facing death may and ought to do so by violently dealing with the oppressor. He who can do neither of the two is a burden. He has no business to be the head of a family. He must either hide himself, or must rest content to live for ever in helplessness and be prepared to crawl like a worm at the bidding of a bully.”

MayHas BeensTwoCan DoOughtProtectPreparedBurdenRevolutionaryHonourBe PreparedBullyWormsHelplessnessOppressorsBiddingFacing Death
Book:The Way to Communal Harmony
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“Whilst I may not actually help anyone to retaliate, I must not let a coward seek shelter behind nonviolence so-called. Not knowing the stuff of which nonviolence is made, many have honestly believed that running away from danger every time was a virtue compared to offering resistance, especially when it was fraught with danger to one's life. As a teacher of nonviolence I must, so far as it is possible for me, guard against such an unmanly belief.”

MayMadeHelpingRunningBeliefStuffBehindsKnowingVirtueTeacherDangerHonestlyResistanceRevolutionaryCowardRunning AwayOfferingNonviolenceShelterNot Knowing
Book:All Men Are Brothers
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“Though violence is not lawful, when it is offered in self-defense or for the defense of the defenseless, it is an act of bravery far better than cowardly submission. The latter befits neither man nor woman. Under violence, there are many stages and varieties of bravery. Every man must judge this for himself. No other person can or has the right.”

MenPersonsSelfViolenceStageJudgingBraveryDefenseEvery ManVarietyRevolutionaryLatterSubmissionSelf DefenseCowardlyDefenselessActs Of Bravery
Author:Mahatma Gandhi
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“Before [Hindus and Moslems] dare think of freedom, they must be brave enough to love one another, to tolerate one another's religion, even prejudices and superstitions, and to trust one another. This requires faith in oneself.”

ThinkingEnoughReligionPeacePrejudiceBraveOneselfDareSuperstitionsTolerateBe BraveLove One Another
Book:The Essential Gandhi: His Life, Work, and Ideas : an Anthology
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“Is the God of the Mahometan different from the God of the Hindu? Religions are different roads converging to the same point. What does it matter that we take different roads so long as we reach the same goal? Wherein is the cause for quarreling?”

LongDoeDifferentMatterReligionCausesGoalDoes It MatterHindu ReligionDifferent Roads
Book:The Essential Gandhi: An Anthology of His Writings on His Life, Work, and Ideas
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