What makes violence especially harmful is that it is always clothed in outward grandeur, thereby inspiring respect towards something that should evoke only revulsion.
The one who coerces us using violence in a way deprives us of our rights, which is why we hate him. On the other hand, we love those who are capable of persuading us as we do our benefactors. The one who resorts to violence is not wise, but rude and unenlightened. Violence needs many accomplices; persuasion needs none. The one who feels himself powerful enough to command people’s minds will not resort to violence—why would he need to exclude someone with a different opinion when it is in his own interest to use friendly persuasion to draw him over to his own side?
— Socratic Dialogues
People who have power are convinced that human beings can only be moved and led by violence, which is why they make bold use of violence to preserve the status quo. But the status quo is preserved not by violence, but by public opinion, which violence disturbs. And therefore the activity of violence weakens the very thing that it is trying to preserve.
The human being is just as little suited for coercing others as he is for obeying them. People are mutually spoiled by these two habits: here we see stupefaction, there we see impudence, but true human dignity is nowhere to be found.
— Considerant
Our lives would be beautiful if only we could see the full extent of their baseness.
— Thoreau
That violence can be used to bring people to justice does not at all mean that it is just to use violence to do so.
— Pascal
The one who does anything by means of violence is unjust; no, only the one who can distinguish the two paths of truth and falsehood, who instructs others and leads them not with violence but with justice, who is faithful to truth and reason—he alone can be called truly righteous.
It is not the one who gives good and beautiful speeches who is wise, but the one who is patient and free from envy and fear—he alone is a truly wise human being.
— The Dhammapada
All violence is contrary to reason and love. Take no part in it.
