“I am not an absolute pacifist, because I can't rule out the possibility that under some, carefully defined circumstances, some degree of violence may be justified, if it is focused directly at a great evil.” IfsMayI CanEvilViolencePossibilityCircumstancesDegreesAbsolutesFocusedDefinedJustifiedBecause I CanPacifist Author:Howard Zinn
“A serious pacifist approach can't win wars against enemies whose only program is violence. That doesn't mean I think the US has fought terrorists so wisely most of the time since 9/11. But there are some enemies that need to be destroyed by force lest they destroy much much more.” ThinkingNeedsMeanWarWinningForceEnemyViolenceSeriousApproachProgramTerroristDestroyedPacifistCan't Win Author:Philip Gourevitch
“India was not a pacifist country at all. India placed great emphasis on the higher value on... on violence. But it was never a substitute for not doing anything, or for cowardice.” CountryValuesViolenceHigherIndiaSubstitutesCowardiceEmphasisPacifist Author:Subramanian Swamy
“I'm not a pacifist. I think the suffering of innocent people can be a catalyst for moral action. But empathy puts too much weight on the scale in favor of war. Empathy can really lead to violence.” PeopleThinkingWarActionSufferingMoralToo MuchViolenceEmpathyWeightFavorsScalesInnocentCatalystPacifistMoral Action Author:Paul Bloom
“[A.J. Muste] never engaged in violence but he believed, as [Mahatma] Gandhi did - and he knew Gandhi slightly - he believed that a pacifist had to be active in the community.” CommunityViolenceActiveEngagedPacifist Author:Nat Hentoff
“I do have an intense respect for pacifists, because I believe that ultimately, if we are to have a truly humanistic as well as libertarian society, violence will have to be banished on this planet.” IfsBelieveWellsI BelieveViolencePlanetsLibertarianIntensePacifistHumanistic Author:Murray Bookchin
“Sadly and criminally, many self-indulgent inactive pacifists have shunned me for being an outspoken supporter of X's 'by any means necessary' philosophy, even though NOT supporting me means you are supporting violence since millions of meat, dairy, egg and honey-eaters who would have had a chance to see my speeches, essays or advertisements continue along their violent paths unchallenged.” MeanSelfPhilosophyChanceMillionsPathViolenceSpeechViolentMeatEggsHoneySupporterEssaysAdvertisementsPacifistDairyOutspokenSelf Indulgent Author:Gary Yourofsky