Power of Nonviolence

Nonviolence offers us a viable, natural third way out of the fight-or-flight conundrum…Natural as nonviolence may be, however, there is no denying that empathy and care for the well-being of someone who’s against us do not come easily. It can be quite a struggle, but it’s encouraging to remember that this very struggle is the source of nonviolent power. As King put it, “The phrase ‘passive resistance’ often gives the false impression that this is a sort of ‘do-nothing method’ in which the resister quietly and passively accepts evil. But nothing is further from the truth. For while the nonviolent resister is passive in the sense that he is not physically aggressive toward his opponent, his mind and emotions are always active, constantly seeking to persuade his opponent that he is wrong.”

Nagler, N. Michael (2014) The nonviolence handbook: a guide for practical action. San Francisco: Berrett-Koehler, p.5-6.