It is far easier to make war than to make peace.
—Georges Clemenceau (1841–1929) French Head of State, Physician, Publisher, Political leader
A time will come when a politician who has willfully made war and promoted international dissension will be as sure of the dock and much surer of the noose than a private homicide. It is not reasonable that those who gamble with men’s lives should not stake their own.
—H. G. Wells (1866–1946) English Novelist, Historian, Social Thinker
Observe good faith and justice toward all nations. Cultivate peace and harmony with all.
—George Washington (1732–99) American Head of State, Military Leader
Peace is costly but it is worth the expense.
—African Proverb
No peace was ever won from fate by subterfuge or agreement; no peace is ever in store for any of us, but that which we shall win by victory over shame or sin,—victory over the sin that oppresses, as well as over that which corrupts.
—John Ruskin (1819–1900) English Writer, Art Critic
In the yogic tradition, this principle of using intense effort to burn through life’s distractions is called Tapas. It’s another Sanskrit word, roughly defined as “heat” or “essential energy”. The concept is that through a disciplined approach to work and self-sacrifice, Tapas will burn away the negativity that separates us from God. By working our hardest and happily enduring the hardships of life we are able to create a sense of peace and clarity in ourselves.
—Russell Simmons (b.1957) American Music Promoter
I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones.
—Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-born Physicist
Better keep peace than make peace.
—Dutch Proverb
The pursuit of peace resembles the building of a great cathedral. It is the work of a generation. In concept it requires a master-architect; in execution, the labors of many.
—Hubert Humphrey (1911–78) American Head of State, Politician
The life of inner peace, being harmonious and without stress, is the easiest type of existence.
—Norman Vincent Peale (1898–1993) American Clergyman, Self-Help Author
Peace is produced by war.
—Pierre Corneille (1606–84) French Poet, Dramatist
The practice of peace and reconciliation is one of the most vital and artistic of human actions.
—Thich Nhat Hanh (1926–2022) Vietnamese Buddhist Religious Leader, Teacher, Author, Peace Activist
War is pillage versus resistance and if illusions of magnitude could be transmuted into ideals of magnanimity, peace might be realized.
—Marianne Moore (1887–1972) American Poet
Everybody today seems to be in such a terrible rush, anxious for greater developments and greater riches and so on, so that children have very little time for their parents. Parents have very little time for each other, and in the home begins the disruption of peace of the world.
—Mother Teresa (1910–97) Roman Catholic Missionary, Nun
An eye for an eye will only make the whole world blind.
—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
Reshape yourself through the power of your will… Those who have conquered themselves…live in peace, alike in cold and heat, pleasure and pain, praise and blame…To such people a clod of dirt, a stone, and gold are the same…Because they are impartial, they rise to great heights.
—The Bhagavad Gita Hindu Scripture
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
I do not want the peace that passeth understanding. I want the understanding which bringeth peace.
—Helen Keller (1880–1968) American Author
We can best help you to prevent war not by repeating your words and following your methods but by finding new words and creating new methods.
—Virginia Woolf (1882–1941) English Novelist
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
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
Silence fertilizes the deep place where personality grows. A life with a peaceful center can weather all storms.
—Norman Vincent Peale (1898–1993) American Clergyman, Self-Help Author
I offer you peace. I offer you love. I offer you friendship. I see your beauty. I hear your need. I feel your feelings. My wisdom flows from the Highest Source. I salute that Source in you. Let us work together for unity and love.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
Tranquil pleasures last the longest; we are not fitted to bear long the burden of great joys.
—Christian Nestell Bovee (1820–1904) American Writer, Aphorist
Silence gives rise to peace and with peace comes security.
—African Proverb
When will our consciences grow so tender that we will act to prevent human misery rather than avenge it?
—Eleanor Roosevelt (1884–1962) American First Lady, Diplomat, Humanitarian
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, Theologian
Peace is normally a great good, and normally it coincides with righteousness, but it is righteousness and not peace which should bind the conscience of a nation as it should bind the conscience of an individual; and neither a nation nor an individual can surrender conscience to another’s keeping.
—Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919) American Head of State, Political leader, Historian, Explorer
One sword keeps another in the sheath.
—George Herbert (1593–1633) Welsh Anglican Poet, Orator, Clergyman
Mankind must remember that peace is not God’s gift to his creatures; peace is our gift to each other.
—Elie Wiesel (b.1928) Romanian-born American Writer, Professor, Political Activist
But then peace, peace! I am so mistrustful of it: so much afraid that it means a sort of weakness and giving in.
—D. H. Lawrence (1885–1930) English Novelist, Playwright, Poet, Essayist, Literary Critic
Peace hath higher tests of manhood than battle ever knew.
—John Greenleaf Whittier (1807–92) American Quaker Poet, Abolitionist
Peace cannot be achieved through violence, it can only be attained through understanding.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Perhaps some of us have to go through dark and devious ways before we can find the river of peace or highroad to the soul’s destination.
—Joseph Campbell (1904–87) American Mythologist, Writer, Lecturer
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 (1913–2002) American Philosopher, Academic
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
With intelligence and humility and dedication as our ammunition, we can wage the peace throughout the world with a strength beyond armies, destroying nothing except hate and greed and distrust.
—Paul G. Hoffman (1891–1974) American Businessperson, Government Official
Conflict is inevitable, but combat is optional.
—Max Lucado (b.1955) American Christian Author, Minister
Don’t tell me peace has broken out.
—Bertolt Brecht (1898–1956) German Poet, Playwright, Theater Personality
The greatest honor history can bestow is that of peacemaker.
—Richard Nixon (1913–94) American Head of State, Lawyer
Those who love thy law have great peace, and nothing causes them to stumble.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
So long as governments set the example of killing their enemies, private citizens will occasionally kill theirs.
—Elbert Hubbard (1856–1915) American Writer, Publisher, Artist, Philosopher
Nothing can bring you peace but yourself. Nothing can bring you peace but the triumph of principles.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
It is more difficult to organize peace than to win a war; but the fruits of victory will be lost if the peace is not well organized.
—Aristotle (384BCE–322BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher, Scholar
Never continue in a job you don’t enjoy. If you’re happy in what you’re doing, you’ll like yourself, you’ll have inner peace. And if you have that, along with physical health, you will have had more success than you could possibly have imagined.
—Johnny Carson (1925–2005) American Comedian
The tree of silence bears the fruits of peace.
—Arabic Proverb
Every kind of peaceful cooperation among men is primarily based on mutual trust and only secondarily on institutions such as courts of justice and police.
—Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-born Physicist
I learned that as long as I had anything in my heart or head I still felt necessary to hide, it would not work. I had to come to peace with everything.
—Marlo Morgan (1937–98) American Novelist, Author
Better to have bread and an onion with peace than stuffed fowl with strife.
—Arabic Proverb