Mahatma Gandhi Quotes about Suffering

Passive resistance is a method of securing rights by personal suffering; it is the reverse of resistance by arms.

Passive resistance is a method of securing rights by personal suffering; it is the reverse of resistance by arms.

Rights, Passive Resistance, Suffering

Mahatma Gandhi, Anthony J. Parel (1997). “Gandhi: 'Hind Swaraj' and Other Writings”, p.90, Cambridge University Press

Though I cannot claim to be a Christian in the sectarian sense, the example of Jesus suffering is a factor in the composition of my undying faith in non-violence which rules all my actions, worldly and temporal.

Mahatma Gandhi

Christian, Jesus, Suffering

Mahatma Gandhi (1977). “Collected Works”

I suffer snakes to be killed in the ashram when it is impossible to catch them and put them out of harm's way.

Mahatma Gandhi

Snakes, Suffering, Way

Mahatma Gandhi (1980). “All Men are Brothers: Autobiographical Reflections”, p.39, A&C Black

True suffering does not know itself and never calculates.

Mahatma Gandhi

Suffering, Doe, Knows

Mahatma Gandhi (1967). “The Mind of Mahatma Gandhi”, p.175, Rajpal & Sons

The only way love punishes in by suffering.

Mahatma Gandhi

Love, Suffering, Way

The quest of Truth involves tapas-self-suffering-sometimes even unto death.

Mahatma Gandhi

Truth, Self, Suffering

Mahatma Gandhi, Mohandas Gandhi, Ronald Duncan (2005). “Gandhi: Selected Writings”, p.47, Courier Corporation

Truth quenches untruth, love quenches anger, self-suffering quenches violence. This eternal rule is a rule not for saints only but for all.

Mahatma Gandhi

Truth, Self, Suffering

Mahatma Gandhi (1965). “Glorious Thoughts of Gandhi: Being a Treasury of about Ten Thousand Valuable and Inspiring Thougths of Mahatma Gandhi, Classified Under Four Hundred Subjects”

Nonviolence, in its dynamic condition means conscious suffering.

Mahatma Gandhi

Mean, Suffering, Conscious

Mahatma Gandhi (1959). “India of My Dreams”, p.79, Rajpal & Sons

He who atones for sins never calculates; he pours out the whole essence of his contrite heart.

Mahatma Gandhi

Heart, Essence, Suffering

Mahatma Gandhi, Anand T. Hingorani, Ganga Anand Hingorani (1985). “The Encyclopaedia of Gandhian Thoughts”

There is no time limit for a satyagrahi nor is there a limit to his capacity for suffering.

Mahatma Gandhi

Suffering, Limits, Capacity

Mahatma Gandhi, Anand T. Hingorani, Ganga Anand Hingorani (1985). “The Encyclopaedia of Gandhian Thoughts”

Ahimsa calls for the strength and courage to suffer without retaliation, to receive blows without returning any.

Mahatma Gandhi

Blow, Suffering, Retaliation

Mahatma Gandhi, Thomas Merton (1965). “Gandhi on Non-violence”, p.58, New Directions Publishing

Love can never express itself by imposing sufferings on others. It can only express itself by self-suffering, by self-purification.

Mahatma Gandhi

Love, Self, Suffering

Mahatma Gandhi (1973). “Collected Works”

To gain India's freedom, the capacity for suffering must go hand in hand with the capacity for ceaseless labour.

Mahatma Gandhi

Hands, Suffering, India

Mahatma Gandhi (1977). “Collected Works”

A warrior lives on his wars, whether offensive or defensive. And he suffers a collapse if he finds that his warring capacity is unwanted.

Mahatma Gandhi

War, Suffering, Offensive

Mahatma Gandhi, Mohandas Gandhi, Homer A. Jack (2005). “The Wit and Wisdom of Gandhi”, p.118, Courier Corporation

Reason has to be strengthened by suffering, and suffering opens the eyes of understanding.

Mahatma Gandhi

Eye, Understanding, Suffering

Mahatma Gandhi (1958). “Satyagraha (non-violent Resistance)”

Your readiness to suffer will light the torch of freedom which will never be put out.

Mahatma Gandhi

Light, Suffering, Torches

India's freedom will not be won by violence but only by the purest suffering without retaliation.

Mahatma Gandhi

Suffering, India, Violence

Mahatma Gandhi (1984). “The Quintessence of Gandhi in His Own Words”

My religion says that only he who is prepared to suffer can pray to God.

Mahatma Gandhi

God, Suffering, Praying

Mohandas Karmchand Gandhi, Mahatma Gandhi, V. Geetha (2004). “Soul Force: Gandhi's Writings on Peace”, p.192, Tara Publishing

Nations are born out of travail and suffering

Mahatma Gandhi

Suffering, Politics, Born

Mahatma Gandhi (1958). “Satyagraha (non-violent Resistance)”

I claim that in losing the spinning wheel we lost our left lung. We are, therefore, suffering from galloping consumption. The restoration of the wheel arrests the progress of the fell disease.

Mahatma Gandhi

Technology, Suffering, Progress

1921 Speech, 13 Oct.

You can't lead a true life without suffering

Mahatma Gandhi

True Life, Suffering

Mahatma Gandhi (1951). “A Day Book of Thoughts from Mahatma Gandhi”

If she [woman] is weak in striking, she is strong in suffering.

Mahatma Gandhi

Strong, Women, Suffering

Suffering cheerfully endured, ceases to be suffering and is transmuted into an ineffable joy.

Mahatma Gandhi

Joy, Suffering, Ineffable

Mahatma Gandhi, Mohandas Gandhi, Homer A. Jack (2005). “The Wit and Wisdom of Gandhi”, p.91, Courier Corporation

We want to go in for suffering, and there may be torture. If we put the women in front the Government may hesitate to inflict on us all the penalty that they might otherwise inflict.

Mahatma Gandhi

Government, History, Suffering

Mahatma Gandhi (1930). “Young India”

Spiritual instruments suffer in their potency when their use is taught through non-spiritual messages which are self-propagating.

Mahatma Gandhi

Spiritual, Self, Suffering