Those revolutionaries who have, by chance, escaped the gallows should live and show to the world that they cannot only embrace gallows for the ideal but also bear the worst type of tortures in the dark, dingy prison cells.
Interpretation
The quote emphasizes the resilience of revolutionaries who endure severe trials and continue to fight for their ideals even from imprisonment.
Bhagat Singh expresses that those revolutionaries who have narrowly escaped execution should continue to manifest their strength and commitment to their ideals. They demonstrate that their resolve is not broken by the hardships they endure, including imprisonment and suffering. This resilience serves as an inspiration to others and showcases the true spirit of revolutionary courage.
In practice
During a speech on the importance of courage in activism, one might quote Bhagat Singh to inspire others to persist despite challenges.
One should not interpret the word “Revolution” in its literal sense. Various meanings and significances are attributed to this word, according to the interests of those who use or misuse it. For the established agencies of exploitation it conjures up a feeling of blood stained horror. To the revolutionaries it is a sacred phrase.
Non-violence is backed by the theory of soul-force in which suffering is courted in the hope of ultimately winning over the opponent. But what happens when such an attempt fail to achieve the object? It is here that soul-force has to be combined with physical force so as not to remain at the mercy of tyrannical and ruthless enemy.
Love always elevates the character of man. It never lowers him, provided love be love
A rebellion is not a revolution. It may ultimately lead to that end.
They may kill me, but they cannot kill my ideas. They can crush my body, but they will not be able to crush my spirit.
Our entire family is replete with sentiments of patriotism. Uncle Swarna Singh left for his heavenly abode in jail in 1910, two or three years after my birth. Uncle Ajit Singh is leading the life of an exile in foreign countries.
My father's approach to the most brutal and unambiguous social injustices during the civil rights struggle was rooted in nonviolence as a morally and tactically correct response.
Being a pathfinder is to be willing to risk failure and still go on.
I have had many opportunities to flee HK, but I would rather stay and fight the United States government in the courts, because I have faith in Hong Kong's rule of law.
I have decided to give up competition. I cannot train properly for the Tour de France which I had hoped to ride for the last time as apotheosis to my career. Doctors are forbidding me to ride anymore in high level competition and I bow to them.
Do right and risk the consequences.
Being senior enough in the field, having enough solidity, I don't feel afraid of being marginalized.
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