"I really believe in non-violence, but I also believe in a short of resistance that has to be respectful"
About this Quote
The key move is the pivot on "but". Non-violence here is not a vibe or personal brand; its paired with "resistance", a word that carries friction, stakes, and public inconvenience. Paul is trying to protect non-violence from being misunderstood as compliance. At the same time, her insistence that resistance "has to be respectful" is doing reputational work. It reassures mainstream listeners that dissent can be disruptive without being dehumanizing, and it draws a boundary against the kind of anger that is easily portrayed as threatening, especially in media narratives that demand protest be palatable.
The slightly awkward "a short of resistance" (likely "a sort") actually reveals something human: shes negotiating language in real time, searching for a framework that honors principle while allowing pressure. Subtext: you can block a street, get arrested, and still keep your ethics intact. Contextually, it fits the modern protest era, where tactics are constantly debated online, and where the demand for civility often functions less as a value than as a leash. Paul is arguing for a resistance that insists on being taken seriously without giving opponents a moral alibi.
Quote Details
| Topic | Peace |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
| Cite |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Paul, Alexandra. (2026, January 16). I really believe in non-violence, but I also believe in a short of resistance that has to be respectful. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/i-really-believe-in-non-violence-but-i-also-108602/
Chicago Style
Paul, Alexandra. "I really believe in non-violence, but I also believe in a short of resistance that has to be respectful." FixQuotes. January 16, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/i-really-believe-in-non-violence-but-i-also-108602/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"I really believe in non-violence, but I also believe in a short of resistance that has to be respectful." FixQuotes, 16 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/i-really-believe-in-non-violence-but-i-also-108602/. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.




