Gene Sharp QUOTES

21 " Resistance, not negotiations, is essential for change in conflicts where fundamental issues are at stake. In nearly all cases, resistance must continue to drive dictators out of power. Success is most often determined not by negotiating a settlement but through the wise use of the most appropriate and powerful means of resistance available. It is our contention, to be explored later in more detail, that political defiance, or nonviolent struggle, is the most powerful means available to those struggling for freedom. "

― Gene Sharp , From Dictatorship to Democracy

23 " Heavy repression against the nonviolent defenders may also arouse stronger international opposition to the coup and mobilize inernational opinion and diplomatic and economic action against the putschists "

― Gene Sharp , The anti-coup

25 " In some cases, however, limited violence against the dictatorship may be inevitable. Frustration and hatred of the regime may explode into violence. Or, certain groups may be unwilling to abandon violent means even though they recognize the important role of nonviolent struggle. In these cases, political defiance does not need to be abandoned. However, it will be necessary to separate the violent action as far as possible from the nonviolent action. This should be done in terms of geography, population groups, timing, and issues. Otherwise the violence could have a disastrous effect on the potentially much more powerful and successful use of political defiance. "

― Gene Sharp , From Dictatorship to Democracy

27 " For example, disciplined courageous nonviolent resistance in face of the dictators’ brutalities may induce unease, disaffection, unreliability, and in extreme situations even mutiny among the dictators’ own soldiers and population. "

― Gene Sharp , From Dictatorship to Democracy

29 " Three of the most important factors in determining to what degree a government’s power will be controlled or uncontrolled therefore are: (1) the relative desire of the populace to impose limits on the government’s power; (2) the relative strength of the subjects’ independent organizations and institutions to withdraw collectively the sources of power; and (3) the population’s relative ability to withhold their consent and assistance. "

― Gene Sharp , From Dictatorship to Democracy

31 " Engage in friendly creative communication with the functionaries and troops serving the putschists while continuing resistance.

Explain to them the reasons for the defense struggle, affirm the absence of ny intended violence against them, seek to undermine the reliability, and try to induce them to be helpful to the defenders. "

― Gene Sharp , The anti-coup

33 " If, despite repression, the sources of power can be restricted or severed for enough time, the initial results may be uncertainty and confusion within the dictatorship. That is likely to be followed by a clear weakening of the power of the dictatorship. Over time, the withholding of the sources of power can produce the paralysis and impotence of the regime, and in severe cases, its disintegration. The dictators’ power will die, slowly or rapidly, from political starvation. "

― Gene Sharp , From Dictatorship to Democracy

35 " The old preconception that violent means always work quickly and nonviolent means always require vast time is clearly not valid. Although much time may be required for changes in the underlying situation and society, the actual fight against a dictatorship sometimes occurs relatively quickly by nonviolent struggle. "

― Gene Sharp , From Dictatorship to Democracy

37 " 如果沒有能力實現自己的奮鬥目標，那麼即使自我感覺良好、不參與暴力、願意犧牲性命，亦改變不了行動失敗的事實。 "

― Gene Sharp , Waging Nonviolent Struggle: 20th Century Practice and 21st Century Potential

39 " A country’s finances, natural resources, and production capacities are often arbitrarily plundered by dictators and used to support the dictators’ will. "

― Gene Sharp , From Dictatorship to Democracy