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Hannah Arendt Quotes about Violence

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Violence is an expression of impotence.

Violence is an expression of impotence.

Hannah Arendt
Expression, Violence, Impotence

Generally speaking, violence always arises out of impotence. It is the hope of those who have no power.

Hannah Arendt
Violence, Arise, Impotence

Violence can destroy power; it is utterly incapable of creating it.

Hannah Arendt
Creating, Violence, Incapable
Hannah Arendt (1970). “On Violence”, p.62, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Legitimacy, when challenged, bases itself on an appeal to the past, while justification relates to an end that lies in the future. Violence can be justifiable, but it never will be legitimate.

Hannah Arendt
Lying, Past, Violence
Hannah Arendt (1972). “Crises of the Republic: Lying in Politics; Civil Disobedience; On Violence; Thoughts on Politics and Revolution”, p.161, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Violence can always destroy power; out of the barrel of a gun grows the most effective command, resulting in the most instant and perfect obedience. What never can grow out of it is power.

Hannah Arendt
Gun, Perfect, Violence
Hannah Arendt (1972). “Crises of the Republic: Lying in Politics; Civil Disobedience; On Violence; Thoughts on Politics and Revolution”, p.162, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

The extreme form of power is All against One, the extreme form of violence is One against All.

Hannah Arendt
Power, Violence, Form
Hannah Arendt (1970). “On Violence”, p.48, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

The more dubious and uncertain an instrument violence has become in international relations, the more it has gained in reputation and appeal in domestic affairs, specifically in the matter of revolution.

Hannah Arendt
Dubious, Matter, Violence
Hannah Arendt (1970). “On Violence”, p.17, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

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