In this blog, we delve into Mahatma Gandhi’s wise words on the topic of cowardice. Gandhi, a champion of non-violence and justice, had a lot to say about courage and fear. Coward quotes by Mahatma Gandhi offer valuable insights into what it means to confront cowardice and how it affects our lives. Join us as we explore his profound thoughts and discover the wisdom he shared on this important aspect of human behavior.
Coward Quotes by Mahatma Gandhi
1. “Cowardice is incompatible with divine wisdom.”
Gandhi believed that true wisdom and spirituality should lead to courage and moral strength. Cowardice, which involves fear and a lack of moral conviction, is seen as contradictory to the principles of divine wisdom.
2. “Cowardice is no sign of belief in God.”
Gandhi argued that if one truly believes in a higher power or God, they should also have faith in the principles of justice, righteousness, and moral courage. Cowardice, therefore, contradicts genuine religious or spiritual belief.
3. “Better by far than cowardice is killing and being killed in battle.”
Gandhi did not advocate violence, but this quote reflects his view that it is better to stand up for a just cause and face the consequences bravely, even if it means risking one’s life, rather than succumbing to cowardice and doing nothing.
4. “Could there be a greater proof of our cowardice than fighting amongst ourselves?”
Gandhi highlights the irony of humans resorting to violence against each other, which he considered a sign of cowardice. He believed that conflicts should be resolved through nonviolent means.
5. “No police or military in the world can protect people who are cowards.”
Gandhi emphasizes that external protection, such as police or military forces, cannot shield individuals who lack inner courage and conviction. True security comes from moral strength.
6. “There can be no friendship between cowards, or cowards and brave men.”
Gandhi suggests that cowardice can hinder the development of genuine friendships because it lacks the trust and mutual respect that true friendships require.
7. “It was the cowards who died many times before their death.”
Gandhi believed that living in constant fear and cowardice is a form of spiritual death. Those who lack courage and conviction experience a kind of death of the spirit long before their physical death.
8. “It is better to be charged with cowardice and weakness than to be guilty of denial of our oath and sin against God.”
Gandhi valued honesty and integrity. He believed it’s better to admit one’s shortcomings, even if it includes being accused of cowardice, than to betray one’s principles and oaths, which he considered a sin.
9. “Nonviolence is the virtue of the manly. The coward is innocent of it.”
Gandhi associates nonviolence with true strength and courage. He suggests that those who resort to violence are actually the ones lacking in real courage.
10. “Nonviolence and cowardice go ill together.”
Gandhi firmly believed that nonviolence, as a path of resistance, requires immense courage and moral strength. Cowardice and nonviolence are fundamentally incompatible in his view.
11. “Between violence and cowardly flight, I can only prefer violence to cowardice.”
Gandhi, while advocating nonviolence, acknowledged that violence is preferable to cowardly inaction or fleeing from a just cause. He believed that standing up for what is right, even through nonviolent means, is the courageous path to take.
12. “Nonviolence should never be used as a shield for cowardice. It is a weapon of the brave.”
Gandhi emphasizes that nonviolence is not a tool for the timid to avoid confrontation but a powerful strategy used by those who possess the courage to stand up for justice and peace.
13. “To change one’s religion under the threat of force was no conversion, but rather cowardice.”
Gandhi believed that true religious conversion should be a matter of faith and choice, not something coerced through threats or force. Yielding to force rather than standing by one’s beliefs is considered an act of cowardice.
14. “To retaliate against the relatives of the co-religionists of the wrong-doer is a cowardly act.”
Gandhi condemns the practice of seeking revenge on innocent people who share a religion with a wrongdoer. Such actions are seen as cowardly and unjust.
15. “I can no more preach nonviolence to a cowardly man than I can tempt a blind man to enjoy healthy scenes.”
Gandhi acknowledges that nonviolence requires strength and bravery. Trying to persuade a coward to embrace nonviolence is as challenging as convincing a blind person to appreciate the beauty of nature.
16. “Far better than emasculation would be the bravery of those who use physical force. Far better than cowardice would be meeting one’s death fighting.”
Gandhi suggests that resorting to physical force in defense of one’s honor or principles is preferable to cowardice or emasculation. He values bravery and the willingness to fight for what is right.
17. “I would rather have India resort to arms in order to defend her honor than that she should, in a cowardly manner, become or remain a helpless witness to her own dishonor.”
Gandhi, known for his advocacy of nonviolence, expresses his willingness to support the use of force in self-defense if it means protecting honor and dignity rather than passively enduring dishonor.
18. “The truth is that cowardice itself is the violence of a subtle type and therefore dangerous and far more difficult to eradicate than the habit of physical violence.”
Gandhi points out that cowardice can also be a form of violence, albeit subtle. Overcoming cowardice is challenging, as it can lead to harmful consequences.
19. “Running away for fear of death, leaving one’s dear ones, temples, or music to take care of themselves, is irreligion; it is cowardice.”
Gandhi emphasizes that fleeing in the face of danger, abandoning loved ones and cherished values, is both irreligious and cowardly. One should confront challenges with courage.
20. “Where there is only a choice between cowardice and violence, I would advise violence.”
Gandhi acknowledges that in situations where there’s no other viable option, choosing violence over cowardice may be necessary to defend one’s principles and rights.
21. “Ahimsa is an attribute of the brave. Cowardice and ahimsa don’t go together with any more than water and fire.”
Gandhi underscores that nonviolence (ahimsa) is a quality of the brave, and it cannot coexist with cowardice. Just as water and fire are incompatible, so are nonviolence and cowardice.
22. “For thousands to do to death a few hundreds are no bravery. It is worse than cowardice. It is unworthy of nationalism, of any religion.”
Gandhi criticizes the notion that overwhelming force used against a smaller group can be considered brave. He views such actions as unworthy and incompatible with true nationalism and religion.
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