"The Goondas came on the scene because the leaders wanted them. The leaders distrusted one another. Distrust never comes from well-defined causes. A variety of causes, more felt than realised, breeds distrust. We have not yet visualised the fact that our interests are identical. Each party seems vaguely to believe that it can displace the other by some kind of manoeuvermg. But I freely confess as suggested by Babu Bhagwandas that our not knowing the kind of Swaraj we want has also a great deal to do with the distrust. I used not to think so, but he had almost converted me before I became Sir George Lloyd's guest at the Yeravada Central Prison. I am a confirmed convert. The 'points of contact' referred to by me is a phrase intended to cover all social, religious and political relations alike as between individuals and masses. Thus, for instance instead of accentuating the differences in religion, I should set about discovering the good points common to both. I would bridge the social distance wherever I can do so consistently with my religious belief, I would go out of my way to seek common ground on the political field. As for the referee, I have named Hakim Saheb’s name undoubtedly for the universal respect that it carries with it. But I would not hesitate to put the pen even in the hands of a Mussalman who maybe known for his prejudices and fanaticism. For as a Hindu, I should know that I have nothing to lose even if the referee gave the Mussalmans a majority of seats in every province. There is no principle at stake in giving or having seats in elective bodies. Moreover experience has taught me to know that undivided responsibility immediately puts a man on his mettle and his pride or God-fearingness sobers him."
Quote Details
Added by wikiquote-import-bot
Unverified quote
0 likes
Original Language: English
Available Languages (1)
Sources
Mahatma Gandhi, replying to in Young India of June 19th 1924.
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Mahatma_Gandhi
Revision History
No revisions have been submitted for this quote.
Categories
Mahatma Gandhi
1869 – 1948
indischer Volksführer
402 quotes on TrueQuotesView all quotes by Mahatma Gandhi →
Related Quotes
"There is no school equal to a decent home and no teacher equal to a virtuous parent."
"The devotion of such titans of spirit as Lenin to an Ideal must bear fruit. The nobility of his selflessness will be …"
"An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth."
"I believe that the civilization India evolved is not to be beaten in the world. Nothing can equal the seeds sown by o…"
"One of the objects of a newspaper is to understand popular feeling and to give expression to it; another is to arouse…"
"We who seek justice will have to do justice to others."
"The English have taught us that we were not one nation before and that it will require centuries before we become one…"
"Leo Tolstoy's life has been devoted to replacing the method of violence for removing tyranny or securing reform by th…"
"In reality there are as many religions as there are individuals.... Religions are different roads converging to the s…"
"[asked what he thought of modern civilization] That would be a good idea."