We Must Be The World We Want

Life Is But An Endless Series Of Experiments.

If Anybody Said That I Should Die If I Did Not Take Beef-tea Or Mutton, Even Under Medical Advice, I Would Prefer Death.

I Do Believe That Where There Is A Choice Between Cowardice And Non-violence I Would Advise Violence. Thus When My Eldest Son Asked Me What He Should Have Done, Had He Been Present When I Was Almost Fatally Assaulted In 1908, Whether He Should Have Run Away And Seen Me Killed Or Whether He Should Have Used His Physical Force Which He Could And Wanted To Use, And Defended Me, I Told Him That It Was His Duty To Defend Me Even By Using Violence.

If One Does Not Practice Nonviolence In One's Own Personal Relations With Others And Hopes To Use It In Bigger Affairs, One Is Vastly Mistaken.

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.