This idea of weapons of mass exterminations utterly horrible and is something which no one with one spark of humanity can tolerate. I will not pretend to obey a government which is organizing a mass massacre of mankind.
—Bertrand A. Russell (1872–1970) British Philosopher, Mathematician, Social Critic
Drink deeply. Love in serenity and joy.
—Buddhist Teaching
It is madness for sheep to talk peace with a wolf.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
The greatest honor history can bestow is that of peacemaker.
—Richard Nixon (1913–94) American Head of State, Lawyer
Let us ever remember that our interest is in concord, not in conflict; and that our real eminence rests in the victories of peace, not those of war.
—William McKinley (1843–1901) American Republican Statesman, 25th President
Non-violence leads to the highest ethics, which is the goal of all evolution. Until we stop harming all other living beings, we are still savages.
—Thomas Edison (1847–1931) American Inventor, Scientist, Entrepreneur
The pursuit of peace and progress cannot end in a few years in either victory or defeat. The pursuit of peace and progress, with its trials and its errors, its successes and its setbacks, can never be relaxed and never abandoned.
—Dag Hammarskjold (1905–61) Swedish Statesman, UN Diplomat
A bad peace is better than a good war.
—Russian Proverb
Discourage litigation. Persuade your neighbors to compromise whenever you can … As a peace-maker the lawyer has a superior opportunity of being a good man. There will still be business enough.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
That doctrine of peace at any price has done more mischief than any I can well recall that have been afloat in this country. It has occasioned more wars than any of the most ruthless conquerors. It has disturbed and nearly destroyed that political equilibrium so necessary to the liberties and the welfare of the world.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
Set peace of mind as your highest goal and organize your entire life around it.
—Brian Tracy (b.1944) American Author, Motivational Speaker
Moments of kindness and reconciliation are worth having, even if the parting has to come sooner or later.
—Alice Munro (b.1931) Canadian Short-Story Writer, Novelist
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
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
Nonviolence is the supreme law of life.
—Indian Proverb
Let us not use bombs and guns to overcome the world. Let us use love and compassion. Peace begins with a smile—smile five times a day to someone you don’t really want to smile at all—do it for peace. So let us radiate the peace of God and so light his light.
—Mother Teresa (1910–97) Roman Catholic Missionary, Nun
Peace is the well from which the stream of joy runs.
—Scottish Proverb
It is a fearful thing to lead this great peaceful people into war, into the most terrible and disastrous of all wars, civilization itself seeming to be in the balance. But the right is more precious than peace, and we shall fight for the things which we have always carried nearest our hearts—for democracy, for the right of those who submit to authority to have a voice in their own governments, for the rights and liberties of small nations, for a universal dominion of right by such a concert of free peoples as shall bring peace and safety to all nations and make the world itself at last free.
—Woodrow Wilson (1856–1924) American Head of State
A peace that depends on fear is nothing but a suppressed war.
—Henry van Dyke Jr. (1852–1933) American Author, Educator, 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
I believe that the very purpose of life is to be happy. From the very core of our being, we desire contentment. In my own limited experience I have found that the more we care for the happiness of others, the greater is our own sense of well-being. Cultivating a close, warmhearted feeling for others automatically puts the mind at ease. It helps remove whatever fears or insecurities we may have and gives us the strength to cope with any obstacles we encounter. It is the principal source of success in life. Since we are not solely material creatures, it is a mistake to place all our hopes for happiness on external development alone. The key is to develop inner peace.
—The 14th Dalai Lama (b.1935) Tibetan Buddhist Religious Leader, Civil Rights Leader, Philosopher, Author
Don’t tell me peace has broken out.
—Bertolt Brecht (1898–1956) German Poet, Playwright, Theater Personality
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
Think not I came to send peace on the earth; I came not to send peace but a sword.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
A woman’s clothes are the price her husband pays for peace.
—African Proverb
Ignorance is the peace of life.
—Indian Proverb
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
It is open to a war resister to judge between the combatants and wish success to the one who has justice on his side. By so judging he is more likely to bring peace between the two than by remaining a mere spectator.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
Eternal peace lasts until the next war.
—Russian Proverb
Better keep peace than make peace.
—Dutch Proverb