The Story of My Experiments with Truth Duty Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Part.Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #7

The papers brought the news of the outbreak of the Zulu "rebellion" in Natal. I bore no grudge against the Zulus, they had harmed no Indian. [...] But I then believed that the British Empire existed for the welfare of the world. A genuine sense of loyalty prevented me from even wishing ill to the Empire. The rightness or otherwise of the "rebellion" was therefore not likely to affect my decision. Natal had a Volunteer Defence Force, and it was open to it to recruit more men. [...]

So I wrote to the Governor, expressing my readiness, if necessary, to form an Indian Ambulance Corps. (4.24.1-2)

You don't often hear about Gandhi's participation in war, right? But he takes duty seriously.

Quote #8

It was quite clear to me that participation in war could never be consistent with ahimsa. But it is not always given to one to be equally clear about one's duty. A votary of truth is often obliged to grope in the dark. (4.39.3)

Okay, what's going on here? Mr. G. seems to say even he's unsure. Participation in war is contrary to non-violence. But, he says, duty is an obligation, too. Hmm.

Quote #9

So long as he continues to be a social being, he cannot but participate in the himsa that the very existence of society involves. When two nations are fighting, the duty of a votary of ahimsa is to stop the war. He who is not equal to that duty, he who has no power of resisting war, he who is not qualified to resist war, may take part in war, and yet wholeheartedly try to free himself, his nation and the world from war. (4.39.5)

Non-violence is pretty famously anti-war. But, if you can't avoid getting entangled in war, you should participate in war in a constructive way. That seems to be what Gandhi is saying.