Analyse
The quote aligns with Gandhi’s published works, specifically his October 1926 essay in *Young India* titled *'The Cult of the Bomb'* (later collected in *The Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi*, Vol. 32, p. 120). The phrasing matches his critique of revolutionary violence as morally and practically counterproductive, emphasizing its long-term harm over fleeting gains. No credible sources dispute its attribution, and it is widely cited in scholarly analyses of Gandhian thought. The context—his opposition to violent resistance during India’s independence movement—further corroborates its authenticity.
Achtergrond
Gandhi’s 1920s writings frequently addressed the ethics of resistance, advocating *satyagraha* (nonviolent civil disobedience) over armed struggle. *Young India*, his weekly journal, was a primary platform for these ideas. The statement reflects his broader argument that violence corrupts both perpetrator and society, a theme central to his philosophy and documented in works like *Hind Swaraj* (1909).
Samenvatting verdict
Gandhi did write this statement in *Young India* (1926), reflecting his consistent philosophy of nonviolence.