Peace is not an absence of war, it is a virtue, a state of mind, a disposition for benevolence, confidence, justice.
—Baruch Spinoza (1632–77) Dutch Philosopher
The true and solid peace of nations consists not in equality of arms, but in mutual trust alone.
—Pope John XXIII (1881–1963) Italian Catholic Religious Leader, Pope
A merely fallen enemy may rise again, but the reconciled one is truly vanquished.
—Johan Christoph Schiller
Bullets cannot be recalled. They cannot be uninvented. But they can be taken out of the gun.
—Martin Amis (b.1949) American Novelist, Short Story Writer
All the things that truly matter–beauty, love, creativity, joy, inner peace–arise from beyond the mind.
—Eckhart Tolle (b.1948) German Spiritual Writer, Public Speaker, Spiritual Teacher
An eye for an eye will only make the whole world blind.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
We should really love each other in peace and harmony; instead we’re fussin’ n fighting like we ain’t supposed to be.
—Bob Marley (1945–81) Jamaican Musician, Singer, Songwriter
As a peaceful warrior, I would choose when, where and how I would behave. With that commitment, I began to live the life of a warrior.
—Dan Millman (b.1946) American Children’s Books Writer, Sportsperson
When peace is more valued than the entertainment of the insatiable ego, it will be discovered to be ever present and available.
—David R. Hawkins
It’s really a wonder that I haven’t dropped all my ideals because they seem so absurd and impossible to carry out. Yet, I keep them, because in spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart. I simply can’t build up my hopes on a foundation consisting of confusion, misery, and death. I see the world gradually being turned into a wilderness, I hear the ever-approaching thunder, which will destroy us too, I can feel the sufferings of millions and yet, if I look up into the heavens, I think that it will all come right, that this cruelty too will end, and that peace and tranquility will return again.
—Anne Frank (1929–45) Holocaust Victim
Imagine all the people living life in peace. You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one. I hope someday you’ll join us, and the world will be as one.
—John Lennon (1940–80) British Singer, Songwriter, Musician, Activist
It is far easier to make war than to make peace.
—Georges Clemenceau (1841–1929) French Head of State, Physician, Publisher, Political leader
Lovely concord and most sacred peace doth nourish virtue, and fast friendship breed.
—Edmund Spenser (1552–99) English Poet
One effect of sustained conflict is to narrow our vision of what is possible.
—Nelson Mandela (1918–2013) South African Political leader
If man does find the solution for world peace it will be the most revolutionary reversal of his record we have ever known.
—George Marshall (1880–1959) American Military Leader
There is no shadow of protection to be had by sheltering behind the slender stockades of visionary speculation, or by hiding behind the wagon-wheels of pacific theories.
—Soong Mei-ling (1898–2003) Taiwanese First Lady, Politician, Painter
Never be in a hurry; do everything quietly and in a calm spirit. Do not lose your inner peace for anything whatsoever, even if your whole world seems upset.
—Francis de Sales (1567–1622) French Catholic Saint
Peace and friendship with all mankind is our wisest policy, and I wish we may be permitted to pursue it.
—Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) American Head of State, Lawyer
I object to violence because when it appears to do good, the good is only temporary; the evil it does is permanent.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
There is a price which is too great to pay for peace, and that price can be put in one word. One cannot pay the price of self-respect.
—Woodrow Wilson (1856–1924) American Head of State
I have been true to the principles of nonviolence, developing a stronger and stronger aversion to the ideologies of both the far right and the far left and a deeper sense of rage and sorrow over the suffering they continue to produce all over the world.
—Joan Baez (b.1941) American Singer, Songwriter, Musician
It is only those who have neither fired a shot nor heard the shrieks and groans of the wounded who cry aloud for blood, more vengeance, more desolation. War is hell.
—William Tecumseh Sherman (1820–91) American Military Leader, Businessperson, Educator
The more we sweat in peace the less we bleed in war.
—Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit (1900–90) Indian Diplomat, Politician
The language of excitement is at best picturesque merely. You must be calm before you can utter oracles.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
Universal peace will be realized, not because man will become better, but because a new order of things, a new science, new economic necessities, will impose peace.
—Anatole France (1844–1924) French Novelist
Peace is the one condition of survival in this nuclear age.
—Adlai Stevenson (1900–65) American Diplomat, Politician, Orator
It is good to realize that if love and peace can prevail on earth, and if we can teach our children to honor nature’s gifts, the joys and beauties of the outdoors will be here forever.
—Jimmy Carter (b.1924) American Head of State, Military Leader
Americanism means the virtues of courage, honor, justice, truth, sincerity, and hardihoodthe virtues that made America. The things that will destroy America are prosperity-at-any-price, peace-at-any-price, safety-first instead of duty-first, the love of soft living and the get-rich-quick theory of life.
—Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919) American Head of State, Political leader, Historian, Explorer
Conflict is inevitable, but combat is optional.
—Max Lucado (b.1955) American Christian Author, Minister
The ultimate weakness of violence is that it is a descending spiral, begetting the very thing it seeks to destroy. Instead of diminishing evil, it multiplies it. Through violence you may murder the liar, but you cannot murder the lie, nor establish the truth. Through violence you murder the hater, but you do not murder hate. In fact, violence merely increases hate… Returning violence for violence multiples violence, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
—Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929–68) American Civil Rights Leader, Clergyman
We shall never be able to effect physical disarmament until we have succeeded in effecting moral disarmament.
—Ramsay MacDonald (1866–1937) British Head of State, Journalist
Set peace of mind as your highest goal and organize your entire life around it.
—Brian Tracy (b.1944) American Author, Motivational Speaker
It is useless for the sheep to pass resolutions in favor of vegetarianism, while the wolf remains of a different opinion.
—William Motter Inge (1913–73) American Playwright, Novelist, Screenwriter
To a disciple who was forever complaining about others the Master said, “If it is peace you want, seek to change yourself, not other people. It is easier to protect your feet with slippers than to carpet the whole of the earth.”
—Anthony de Mello (1931–87) Indian-born American Theologian
There is no kind of peace which may be purchased on the bargain counter.
—Unknown
Peace, like charity, begins at home.
—Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882–1945) American Head of State, Lawyer
A woman’s clothes are the price her husband pays for peace.
—African Proverb
Each one has to find his peace from within. And peace to be real must be unaffected by outside circumstances.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
What all men are really after is some form, or perhaps only some formula, of peace.
—Joseph Conrad (1857–1924) Polish-born British Novelist
It just was a gradual development over the years. I mean last year was ‘all you need is Love.’ This year, it’s ‘all you need is Love and peace, baby.’ Give peace a chance, and remember Love. The only hope for us is peace. Violence begets violence. You can have peace as soon as you like if we all pull together. You’re all geniuses, and you’re all beautiful. You don’t need anyone to tell you who you are. You are what you are. Get out there and get peace, think peace, and live peace and breathe peace, and you’ll get it as soon as you like.
—John Lennon (1940–80) British Singer, Songwriter, Musician, Activist
Peace is not something you wish for; it’s something you make, something you do, something you are, and something you give away!
—Robert Fulghum (b.1937) American Unitarian Universalist Author, Essayist, Clergyman
Ultimately, we have just one moral duty: to reclaim large areas of peace in ourselves, more and more peace, and to reflect it toward others. And the more peace there is in us, the more peace there will also be in our troubled world.
—Etty Hillesum (1914–43) Dutch Diarist, Holocaust Victim
We have all taken risks in the making of war. Isn’t it time that we should take risks to secure peace?
—Ramsay MacDonald (1866–1937) British Head of State, Journalist
Ignorance is the peace of life.
—Indian Proverb
This year will go down in history. For the first time, a civilized nation has full gun registration. Our streets will be safer, our police more efficient, and the world will follow our lead into the future.
—Adolf Hitler (1889–1945) German Chancellor, Nazi Leader
I do not want the peace that passeth understanding. I want the understanding which bringeth peace.
—Helen Keller (1880–1968) American Author
Peace is more precious than a piece of land.
—Anwar el-Sadat (1918–81) Egyptian Head of State, Political leader
We look forward to the time when the power to love will replace the love of power. Then will our world know the blessings of peace.
—Unknown
When you begin your transcendental training, focusing your best efforts, without attachment to outcomes, you will understand the peaceful warrior’s way.
—Dan Millman (b.1946) American Children’s Books Writer, Sportsperson
You haven’t yet opened your heart fully, to life, to each moment. The peaceful warrior’s way is not about invulnerability, but absolute vulnerability–to the world, to life, and to the Presence you felt. All along I’ve shown you by example that a warrior’s life is not about imagined perfection or victory; it is about love. Love is a warrior’s sword; wherever it cuts, it gives life, not death.
—Dan Millman (b.1946) American Children’s Books Writer, Sportsperson
It is understanding that gives us an ability to have peace. When we understand the other fellow’s viewpoint, and he understands ours, then we can sit down and work out our differences.
—Harry S. Truman (1884–1972) American Head of State
I will not play at tug o’ war.
I’d rather play at hug o’ war,
Where everyone hugs
Instead of tugs,
Where everyone giggles
And rolls on the rug,
Where everyone kisses,
And everyone grins,
And everyone cuddles,
And everyone wins.
—Shel Silverstein (1930–99) American Children’s Books Writer, Poet, Short story Author, Playwright, Author, Songwriter
War grows out of the desire of the individual to gain advantage at the expense of his fellow men.
—Napoleon Hill (1883–1970) American Author, Journalist, Attorney, Lecturer
Much violence is based on the illusion that life is a property to be defended and not to be shared.
—Henri Nouwen (1932–96) Dutch Catholic Priest, Writer, Theologian
The practice of peace and reconciliation is one of the most vital and artistic of human actions.
—Thich Nhat Hanh (b.1926) Vietnamese Buddhist Religious Leader, Teacher, Author, Peace Activist
God, give us grace to accept with serenity the things that cannot be changed, courage to change the things which should be changed, and the wisdom to distinguish the one from the other.
—Reinhold Niebuhr (1892–1971) American Protestant Theologian, Editor
You can’t shake hands with a clenched fist.
—Indira Gandhi (1917–84) Indian Head of State
Mental violence has no potency and injures only the person whose thoughts are violent. It is otherwise with mental non-violence. It has potency which the world does not yet know.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
Maybe we should develop a Crayola bomb as our next secret weapon. A happiness weapon. A beauty bomb. And every time a crisis developed, we would launch one. It would explode high in the air – explode softly – and send thousands, millions, of little parachutes into the air. Floating down to earth – boxes of Crayolas. And we wouldn’t go cheap, either – not little boxes of eight. Boxes of sixty-four, with the sharpener built right in. With silver and gold and copper, magenta and peach and lime, amber and umber and all the rest. And people would smile and get a little funny look on their faces and cover the world with imagination.
—Robert Fulghum (b.1937) American Unitarian Universalist Author, Essayist, Clergyman
You either get tired fighting for peace, or you die.
—John Lennon (1940–80) British Singer, Songwriter, Musician, Activist
There’s no honorable way to kill, no gentle way to destroy. There is nothing good in war. Except its ending.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
The real differences around the world today are not between Jews and Arabs; Protestants and Catholics; Muslims, Croats, and Serbs. The real differences are between those who embrace peace and those who would destroy it; between those who look to the future and those who cling to the past; between those who open their arms and those who are determined to clench their fists.
—Bill Clinton (b.1946) American Head of State, Lawyer, Public Speaker
You are goodness and mercy and compassion and understanding. You are peace and joy and light. You are forgiveness and patience, strength and courage, a helper in time of need, a comforter in time of sorrow, a healer in time of injury, a teacher in times of confusion. You are the deepest wisdom and the highest truth; the greatest peace and the grandest love. You are these things. And in moments of your life you have known yourself to be these things. Choose now to know yourself as these things always.
—Neale Donald Walsch (b.1943) American Spiritual Writer
The greatest honor history can bestow is that of peacemaker.
—Richard Nixon (1913–94) American Head of State, Lawyer
A teacher of fear can’t bring peace on earth. We have been trying to do it that way for thousands of years. The person who turns inner violence around, the person who finds peace inside and lives it, is the one who teaches what true peace is. We are waiting for just one teacher. You’re the one.
—Byron Katie (b.1942) American Speaker, Author