Pacifism is critiqued as an inadequate response to severe moral and geopolitical evils, where inaction can allow perpetrators of violence to prevail. True protection of loved ones and society sometimes requires abandoning pacifist principles, as exemplified by historical contexts where nonviolent resistance succeeded only against civilized adversaries. Faced with ruthless enemies, such as the Nazis, passive approaches fall short, suggesting a need for a more assertive stance in the face of threat and violence.