“Where there is possessiveness, there is violence.”
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Probable attribution
This saying is widely associated with Mahatma Gandhi, but the attribution is not supported by a reliable primary source.
Likely origin: 'The Bhagavad Gita According to Gandhi' (Gandhi's Gita translation and Ashram discourses, c.1926, pub. 1946). Commentary line, not verified against primary text.
About this quote
Gripping tightly onto things or people sets up conflict almost by itself: you guard, control, and lash out to keep hold of what you're clinging to. The harm can be small, a jealous demand or a controlling word, but it grows from that same root. Loosening the grip usually lowers the heat.
When to use it
- A partner who checks his girlfriend's phone turns small disagreements into constant fights.
- Siblings feuding over an inheritance stop speaking, while the one who lets go keeps the family together.
- A manager who hoards credit and control breeds quiet resentment across his team.