One theme throughout this series is that extreme and indiscriminate violence is dangerous.
Conversely, recent episodes are showing us that extreme pacifism is equally dangerous.
EXTREME VIOLENCE
* Groups like Woodbury & Terminus chose extreme violence and a lack of pacifism...and it got them killed.
* Morgan choking that guy to death with his bare hands at the beginning of this past episode when he didn't need to contributed heavily to the eventual death of Eastman.
EXTREME PACIFISM
* Countless unnamed individuals and communities have been murdered or completely sacked because they were too "nice." Noah's gated community falling to The Wolves is a good example of that. Without Rick's groups, Alexandria would've also been a good example.
* Eastman sparing Morgan's life contributed to Eastman's death. Had Eastman killed Morgan like he should have, he would've easily handled that walker that bit him and would likely be alive today.
* Morgan sparing the Wolves in a previous episode made The Wolves' numbers stronger and more dangerous once they attacked.
* Morgan allowing those Wolves to escape Alexandria nearly got Rick killed in the previous episode.
* Glen continuing to give that Alexandrian guy chance after chance after chance when he should've given up on him proved to be dangerous (regardless if Glen lived or died).
MODERATION
* Rick's group defending themselves, being peaceful when appropriate, and being violent when necessary are why they are so strong. Joining forces with the Greene family instead of killing them in season 2 has saved the group countless times. Neutralizing the Woodbury threat while taking in one of them has proven valuable. Putting up with Daryl's nonsense and supporting Rick through his craziness instead of just killing them have paid off big time.
* Rick's group defending themselves, being peaceful when appropriate, and being violent when necessary are why Alexandria survived the Wolf invasion. Rick's group was peaceful enough to join Alexandria without feeling compelled to take it over by force. Therefore, they've gotten to live in nice houses with nearly all the amenities of pre-apocalypse society behind zombie-proof walls. However, Rick's group is violent and tough enough to defend the community against Wolf attacks when necessary.
* If Rick's group had been attacked by wolves in the forest, they probably would've died. That house made sure the baby was hidden from the Wolves, and there's no way that would've happened in the woods.