Ethicist Quotes

“The principle of majority does not work when differences on fundamentals are involved.”

“We do not know whether it is good to live or to die. Therefore, we should not take delight in living, nor should we tremble at the thought of death. We should be equiminded towards death. This is the ideal. It may be long before we reach it, and only a few of us can attain it. Even then, we must keep it constantly in view, and the more difficult it seems of attainment, the greater should be the effort we put forth.”

“Nonviolent action means mobilization of world opinion in our favour.”

“Do not judge others. Be your own judge and you will be truly happy. If you will try to judge others, you are likely to burn your fingers.”

“Let the content of Swaraj grow with the growth of national consciousness and aspirations.”

“Carrying arms for the removal of the Arms Act can never fall under any scheme of nonviolence.”

“What the two hands of the labourer can achieve, the capitalist will never get with all his gold and silver.”

“All good thoughts and ideas mean nothing without action”

“The mice which helplessly find themselves between the cats teeth acquire no merit from their enforced sacrifice.”

“The restoration of free speech, free association and free press is almost the whole Swaraj.”

“True democracy is not inconsistent with a few persons representing the spirit, the hope and the aspirations of those whom they claim to represent.”

“If we were to drive out the English with the weapons with which they enslaved us, our slavery would still be with us even when they have gone.”

“The man who coerces another not to eat fish commits more violence than he who eats it.”

“Blind adoration, in the age of action, is perfectly valueless, is often embarrassing and, equally, often painful.”

“If we take care of the means, we are bound to reach the end sooner or later. When once we have grasped this point, final victory is beyond question. Whatever difficulties we encounter, whatever apparent reverses we sustain, we may not give up the quest for truth.”

“The newspaperman has become a walking plague. He spreads the contagion of lies and calumnies.”

“That parrot's non-co-operation with the cage, with its master, will live for ever because it looks upon renunciation, non-co-operation, as a joy.”

“What we are doing to the forests of the world is but a mirror reflection of what we are doing to ourselves and to one another.”

“Death on the battlefield is welcome to a soldier.”

“Decency and tolerance, to be of any value, must be capable of withstanding the severest strain.”

“There being no absolute and universal standard of right, terrorism must be held to be wrong in every case.”

“Freedom of the press is a precious privilege that no country can forego.”

“Nonviolent attainment of self-government presupposes a non-violent control over the violent elements in the country.”

“Violence becomes imperative when an attempt is made to assert rights without any reference to duties.”

“The press is called the Fourth Estate. It is definitely a power, but, to misuse that power is criminal.”