Nonviolence Valentines: Love as the Greatest Force

Love is in the air this time of year. But in the nonviolent tradition, love is far more than sentiment or romance. It is a force.

When Mahatma Gandhi spoke of nonviolence, he described it as the greatest power at our disposal. He envisioned “friendship with the world” — a love strong enough to oppose injustice without abandoning the humanity of anyone involved. For Gandhi, love and resistance were not opposites. They belonged together.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. called love “the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend.” He was not speaking about affection. He was speaking about agape — steadfast goodwill for all — a disciplined commitment to the dignity of every person, even in the midst of conflict.

And as bell hooks reminds us, “The moment we choose to love we begin to move against domination, against oppression.” Love, in this sense, is not passive. It is an action. A choice. A practice.

This Valentine’s season, we’re sharing “Nonviolence Valentines” — words from leaders and teachers who understood that love is the foundation of lasting peace. Not love as sentimentality. Love as courage. Love as truth. Love as a power that can build justice and transform relationships.

If nonviolence is an eternal power, then love is its beating heart.

May we practice it boldly.