“I do believe that, where there is only a choice between cowardice and violence, I would advise violence.”
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About this quote
Read in context, this ranks courage above safety, not violence above peace. Given only the options of fleeing in fear or standing your ground, the coward's retreat corrodes a person more than an imperfect act of resistance. Doing nothing out of fright is the real failure.
When to use it
- A bystander who steps in when someone is being harassed acts better than one who looks away out of fear.
- An employee who reports a dangerous shortcut, risking backlash, does more good than one who stays quiet to stay safe.
- A kid who finally confronts a persistent bully grows more than one who keeps hiding and hoping it stops on its own.