No matter how rudely someone treats you, remain kind. Walking away at peace with yourself is worth it.
Even when people act nastily to you, don't condemn them or retaliate.
Return animosity with virtue.
Peace is not the absence of conflict but the presence of creative alternatives for responding to conflict - alternatives to passive or aggressive responses, alternatives to violence.
Acceptance does not mean inaction. We may need to respond, strongly at times...From a peaceful center we can respond instead of react. Unconscious reactions create problems. Considered responses bring peace. With a peaceful heart whatever happens can be met with wisdom...Peace is not weak; it is unshakable.
The longer you practice nonviolence and the meditative qualities of it that you will need, the more likely you are to do something intelligent in any situation.
I think we defeat terrorism by showing them that we do not fear them.
Some may seek revenge, but this is not our policy.
We don't need to respond with desperate violence.
A kiss for a blow is always best, though it's not very easy to give it sometimes.
I think one of the things we must constantly keep in mind is, 'If anybody hits you on one cheek, turn the other.'
People need to learn how to respond to each other's hatreds with love - which is what Jesus taught us, which is what Buddha came here to teach us, which is what Muhammad taught us, which is what all of the great spiritual masters who have ever walked among us who live at those highest energies taught us - responding to force with more force will just create more problems.
Hatred of the people who hate you, that is the opposite of being the enemy. I want to fight fire with water wherever I can.
If you resort to violent methods because the other side has destroyed your monastery, for example, you then have lost not only your monastery, but also your special Buddhist practices of detachment, love, and compassion.
We can't answer King's assassination with violence. That would be the worst tribute we could pay him.
None of us offers resistance when he is seized, or avenges himself for your unjust violence, although our people are numerous and plentiful...it is not lawful for us to hate, and so we please God more when we render no requital for injury...we repay your hatred with kindness.
Let anyone speak hundreds of things against you, do not resent by giving a bitter reply. If you tolerate such things, you will certainly be happy. If anybody wants any money from you, and you are not inclined to give, do not give. But do not bark at him like a Dog.
It is better to be the recipient of violence than the inflicter of it, since the latter only multiplies the existence of violence and bitterness in the universe, while the former may develop a sense of shame in the opponent, and thereby bring about a transformation and change of heart.
Language failed me very often, but then, the substitute for me was silence, but not violence.
Good Christians should never avenge injuries.
If somebody mistreats you, treat 'em good. That kills 'em.
Nothing will convince and convict those around us like the peaceful and positive way you and I respond to our twentieth century hurts and distress. The unbelieving world-your neighbors, the guy at the gas station, the postman, the lady at the cleaners, your boss at work-is observing the way we undergo our trials.
Never react to an evil in such a way as to augment it.
