Quotes about peace page 3
“Peace means nothing without freedom.”
Derek Landy (1974) Irish children's writer
Source: Kingdom of the Wicked
Aldo Leopold book A Sand County Almanac
“Arizona and New Mexico: Thinking Like a Mountain”, p. 133. <br class="br">This is a paraphrase of Thoreau: see explanation by the Walden Woods project http://www.walden.org/Library/Quotations/The_Henry_D._Thoreau_Mis-Quotation_Page). <br class="br">Source: A Sand County Almanac, 1949, "Arizona and New Mexico: On Top," & "Arizona and New Mexico: Thinking Like a Mountain"
“you’d think that silence would be peaceful. but really, it’s painful.”
David Levithan book Will Grayson, Will Grayson
Source: Will Grayson, Will Grayson
“Soldiers' graves are the greatest preachers of peace.”
Albert Schweitzer (1875–1965) French-German physician, theologian, musician and philosopher
John Lennon (1940–1980) English singer and songwriter
Statement to the press in July 1969 after the release of the Plastic Ono Band's single "Give Peace a Chance", as quoted in The Beatles: An Oral History by David Pritchard and Alan Lysaght (1998) New York: Hyperion. ISBN: 0786864362. OCLC: 39093547. p. 285.
Context: It was just a gradual development over the years. Last year was "All You Need Is Love." This year it's "Give Peace a Chance." Remember love. The only hope for any of us is peace. Violence begets violence. If you want to get peace, you can get it as soon as you like if we all pull together. You're all geniuses and you're all beautiful. You don't need anybody to tell you who you are or what you are. You are what you are. Get out there and get peace. Think peace, live peace, and breathe peace and you'll get it as soon as you like. Okay?
“Peace and joy are not things you attain at the end of life. They are the basis of your life.”
Sadhguru book Inner Engineering: A Yogi's Guide to Joy
Source: Inner Engineering: A Yogi's Guide to Joy
“If everyone demanded peace instead of another television set, then there'd be peace.”
John Lennon (1940–1980) English singer and songwriter
As quoted in Guitar Player (1 August 2004), and in "Pax Patter" at ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) http://www.abc.net.au/civics/rights/pax.htm <br class="br">Variant: When we say "War is over if you want it," we mean that if everyone demanded peace instead of another TV set, we'd have peace.
Albert Schweitzer (1875–1965) French-German physician, theologian, musician and philosopher
Variant translation: Until he extends his circle of compassion to include all living things, man will not himself find peace.
Variant translation: Until we extend the circle of compassion to all living things, we will not ourselves find peace.
Kulturphilosophie (1923)
Ronald Reagan (1911–2004) American politician, 40th president of the United States (in office from 1981 to 1989)
Source: The Quest for Peace, the Cause of Freedom
William T. Sherman (1820–1891) American General, businessman, educator, and author.
1860s, 1864, Letter to the City of Atlanta (September 1864)
Source: Memoirs of General W.T. Sherman
Context: You cannot qualify war in harsher terms than I will. War is cruelty, and you cannot refine it; and those who brought war into our country deserve all the curses and maledictions a people can pour out. I know I had no hand in making this war, and I know I will make more sacrifices today than any of you to secure peace. But you cannot have peace and a division of our country. If the United States submits to a division now, it will not stop
Context: You cannot qualify war in harsher terms than I will. War is cruelty, and you cannot refine it; and those who brought war into our country deserve all the curses and maledictions a people can pour out. I know I had no hand in making this war, and I know I will make more sacrifices today than any of you to secure peace. But you cannot have peace and a division of our country. If the United States submits to a division now, it will not stop, but will go on until we reap the fate of Mexico, which is eternal war. The United States does and must assert its authority, wherever it once had power; for, if it relaxes one bit to pressure, it is gone, and I believe that such is the national feeling.
Ilona Andrews American husband-and-wife novelist duo
Source: Magic Burns
“Be The Peace You Wish To See In The World!”
Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929–1968) American clergyman, activist, and leader in the American Civil Rights Movement
“Fighting for peace, is like f***ing for chastity”
Stephen King book Hearts in Atlantis
Source: Hearts in Atlantis
“pg.9 "In my heart there's a peaceful anguish, and my calm is made of resignation.”
Fernando Pessoa book The Book of Disquiet
Source: The Book of Disquiet
Thich Nhat Hanh (1926) Religious leader and peace activist
Touching Peace (1992), p. 1. Parallax Press ISBN 0-938077-57-0
Variant: The miracle is not to walk on water. The miracle is to walk on the green earth, dwelling deeply in the present moment and feeling truly alive.
Source: Touching Peace: Practicing the Art of Mindful Living
“You have everything you need for complete peace and total happiness right now.”
Wayne W. Dyer (1940–2015) American writer
“There is no peace that cannot be found in the present moment.”
Tasha Tudor (1915–2008) American illustrator and writer
Albert Schweitzer (1875–1965) French-German physician, theologian, musician and philosopher
Memoirs of Childhood and Youth (1924)
Context: One thing that specially saddened me was that the unfortunate animals had to suffer so much pain and misery. The sight of an old limping horse, tugged forward by one man while another kept beating it with a stick to get it to the knacker's yard at Colmar, haunted me for weeks. It was quite incomprehensible to me — this was before I began going to school — why in my evening prayers I should pray for human beings only. It was quite incomprehensible to me — this was before I began going to school — why in my evening prayers I should pray for human beings only. So when my mother had prayed with me and had kissed me good-night, I used to add silently a prayer that I had composed myself for all living creatures. It ran thus: "O, heavenly Father, protect and bless all things that have breath; guard them from all evil, and let them sleep in peace."
“Without justice and love, peace will always be a great illusion.”
Helder Camara (1909–1999) Brazilian Catholic priest, archbishop of Olinda and Recife
“If you want peace, you won't get it with violence.”
John Lennon (1940–1980) English singer and songwriter
Malcolm X (1925–1965) American human rights activist
November 10, 1963
This was said before Malcolm X left the Nation of Islam and as he himself stated, before he truly understood Islam.
Malcolm X Speaks (1965)
George Washington (1732–1799) first President of the United States
Fifth annual Message http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/washs05.asp (3 December 1793) <br class="br">1790s <br class="br">Source: The Writings of George Washington from the Original Manuscript Sources 1745-1799 Volume 39 (General Index O-Z List of Letters) - Leather Bound
“A people free to choose will always choose peace.”
Ronald Reagan (1911–2004) American politician, 40th president of the United States (in office from 1981 to 1989)
Variant: A people free to choose will always choose peace
“All men desire peace, but very few desire those things that make for peace.”
Thomas à Kempis book The Imitation of Christ
Source: The Imitation of Christ
“With stillness comes the benediction of Peace.”
Eckhart Tolle (1948) German writer
Source: A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose
“Expectations destroy our peace of mind. They are future disappointments, planned out in advance.”
Elizabeth George (1949) American woman mystery and thriller writer
“It's one of the reasons I became a writer, to be able to smoke in peace.”
Susanna Kaysen book Girl, Interrupted
Source: Girl, Interrupted
“If I must choose between righteousness and peace I choose righteousness.”
Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919) American politician, 26th president of the United States
America and the World War (1915)
1910s
Eckhart Tolle (1948) German writer
Source: Practicing the Power of Now: Essential Teachings, Meditations, and Exercises from the Power of Now
“Lord Illingworth: Discontent is the first step in the progress of a man or a nation.”
Oscar Wilde A Woman of No Importance
Act II
A Woman of No Importance (1893)
“The first and fundamental law of Nature, which is, to seek peace and follow it.”
Thomas Hobbes (1588–1679) English philosopher, born 1588
“Parents are not interested in justice, they're interested in peace and quiet.”
Bill Cosby (1937) American actor, comedian, author, producer, musician, activist
Derek Landy (1974) Irish children's writer
Source: The Maleficent Seven: From the World of Skulduggery Pleasant
Jimmy Carter (1924) American politician, 39th president of the United States (in office from 1977 to 1981)
Post-Presidency, Nobel lecture (2002)
Source: The Nobel Peace Prize Lecture
“Peace of mind comes from not wanting to change others.”
Gerald G. Jampolsky (1925) American writer and psychiatrist
Source: Love Is Letting Go of Fear
Vandana Shiva (1952) Indian philosopher
Source: Quoted in Woman power to the fore, by R.S. Binuraj, The Hindu (1 July 2017)
Anne Frank (1929–1945) victim of the Holocaust and author of a diary
Source: The Diary of a Young Girl
Eleanor Roosevelt (1884–1962) American politician, diplomat, and activist, and First Lady of the United States
Voice of America broadcast (11 November 1951)
“If there is to be any peace it will come through being, not having.”
Henry Miller (1891–1980) American novelist
“All we are saying is give peace a chance!”
John Lennon (1940–1980) English singer and songwriter
"Give Peace a Chance"
Lyrics
Variant: Give Peace a Chance.
Blaise Pascal (1623–1662) French mathematician, physicist, inventor, writer, and Christian philosopher
Ram Dass (1931–2019) American contemporary spiritual teacher and the author of the 1971 book Be Here Now
Jimmy Carter book A Call to Action: Women, Religion, Violence, and Power
Source: A Call to Action: Women, Religion, Violence, and Power
Aung San Suu Kyi (1945) State Counsellor of Myanmar and Leader of the National League for Democracy
Opening Keynote Address at NGO Forum on Women, Beijing China (1995)
Context: For millennia women have dedicated themselves almost exclusively to the task of nurturing, protecting and caring for the young and the old, striving for the conditions of peace that favour life as a whole. To this can be added the fact that, to the best of my knowledge, no war was ever started by women. But it is women and children who have always suffered most in situations of conflict. Now that we are gaining control of the primary historical role imposed on us of sustaining life in the context of the home and family, it is time to apply in the arena of the world the wisdom and experience thus gained in activities of peace over so many thousands of years. The education and empowerment of women throughout the world cannot fail to result in a more caring, tolerant, just and peaceful life for all.
“We will not learn how to live together in peace by killing each other's children.”
Jimmy Carter (1924) American politician, 39th president of the United States (in office from 1977 to 1981)
Muhammad (570–632) Arabian religious leader and the founder of Islam
Riyadh-as-Saliheen by Imam Al-Nawawi, volume 4, hadith number 616
Sunni Hadith
Variant: Abu Hurayra reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Part of the excellence of a person's Islam is his leaving alone what does not concern him."
Napoleon I of France (1769–1821) French general, First Consul and later Emperor of the French
Napoleon : In His Own Words (1916)
Peter Wessel Zapffe (1899–1990) Norwegian philosopher, mountaineer, and author
Source: The Last Messiah (1933), To Be a Human Being https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4m6vvaY-Wo&t=1110s (1989–90)
Jean Vanier (1928–2019) Canadian humanitarian
Google this: Jean Vanier and what it means to be human http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-briggs/google-this-jean-vanier-a_b_7484702.html Huffington Post, 02/06/2015 <br class="br">From interviews and talks
Barack Obama (1961) 44th President of the United States of America
2014, Remarks to the People of Estonia (September 2014)
Malala Yousafzai (1997) Pakistani children's education activist
Nobel Peace Prize Lecture (December 10, 2014)
Barack Obama (1961) 44th President of the United States of America
2009, First Inaugural Address (January 2009)
Sydney Smith (1771–1845) English writer and clergyman
Vol. I, p. 29
Lady Holland's Memoir (1855), Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. (1919)
Barack Obama (1961) 44th President of the United States of America
2004, Democratic National Convention speech (July 2004)