Mahatma Gandhi
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3.5
- proper noun
- First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win. -- Mahatma Gandhi
Examples
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Koho, I hope there are people still in the US military who are thinking in the same terms: you ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win." - Mahatma Gandhi
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As an example of this, van der Veer cites the leader of the Indian independence movement, Mahatma Gandhi.
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Mahatma Gandhi must have been thinking about Murray when he said: "It is difficult but not impossible to conduct strictly honest business."
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Mahatma Gandhi is celebrated for his commitment to nonviolent resistance in the fight for India's independence.
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On October 2nd, people around the world honor Mahatma Gandhi, a leader who inspired peaceful protests against colonial rule.
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Mahatma Gandhi's philosophy of nonviolence greatly influenced civil rights movements across the globe.
Synonyms
74
4.5
An Indian leader who used peaceful protest to win independence from Britain
1
4.1
An Indian political and spiritual leader who led India to independence through peaceful protest
Surface Forms
Morphology
This expression is simply an honorific ('mahatma' = sage/spiritual leader) plus a proper name ('Gandhi' = the Indian independence leader), so a learner who knows both constituents will understand it refers to the revered Indian political and spiritual leader. The meaning is compositional (honorific + name) rather than idiomatic, making it directly interpretable to learners familiar with the parts.
Etymology
Mahatma Gandhi uses the title Mahatma, a word that means 'great soul' in an old Indian language and was given to him by people who admired his wisdom and morals. He led India's fight for freedom without violence, so the name suggests 'a great, moral leader'.