Nothing so aggravates an earnest person as a passive resistance. If the individual, so resisted be of a not inhumane temper, and the resisting one perfectly harmless in his passivity; then, in the better moods of the former, he will endeavor charitably to construe to his imagination what proves impossible to be solved by his judgment.

From “Bartleby,  The Scrivener: A Story of Wall Street” by Herman Melville

Violence and aggressiveness prevail in our world. Yet it is reassuring to learn that passive resistance has been a proven method of fighting for your own rights for a long time. Of course, it must fulfill a number of conditions. Melville outlined them, the main one being “the individual, so resisted be of a not inhumane temper.”   This type of behavior has best worked with mighty groups that can overcome any opposition. But it is of doubtful value for an individual because people with bad temper abound. You will just get a kick in your butt. There are exceptions. It comes to mind those prisoners who resort to hunger strikes.