proverb · Words worth keeping
Force, no matter how concealed, begets resistance.
Force, no matter how concealed, begets resistance.
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
Concealed force producing resistance links coercion with a possible response against it. The saying asks attention to power even when it is not openly displayed.
Example
A group examines whether an apparently voluntary arrangement contains pressure that affects people’s choices.
Deeper explanation and when to use it
Begets makes the relation sound inevitable, but the response can vary and may not be visible. A responsible interpretation examines a specific exercise of power without demanding that someone resist in a prescribed way or blaming a person who cannot. It gives no conflict tactic or guarantee of victory.
When to use it
Use it to discuss coercion and response with agency and actual evidence considered.
Keep in mind
No inevitable resistance, required confrontation or guaranteed outcome is established.
An interpretation of the words, not a claim about their earliest origin.
Attribution & collection notes
- Author or tradition
- Traditional
Attribution: traditional - Country attributed
- Not established
A country attribution does not establish the earliest origin. - Historical period
- Date unknown
- Culture
- Lakota