Peacemaking Quotes

“It is not enough to win a war; it is more important to organize the peace.”
― Aristotle

“Shine your soul with the same
egoless humility as the rainbow
and no matter where you go
in this world or the next,
love will find you, attend you, and bless you.”
― Aberjhani, Journey through the Power of the Rainbow: Quotations from a Life Made Out of Poetry

“This world’s anguish is no different
from the love we insist on holding back.”
― Aberjhani, Elemental: The Power of Illuminated Love

“Peace is the fruit of love, a love that is also justice. But to grow in love requires work -- hard work. And it can bring pain because it implies loss -- loss of the certitudes, comforts, and hurts that shelter and define us.”
― Jean Vanier, Finding Peace

“Never think that war is a good thing, grandchildren. Though it may be necessary at times to defend our people, war is a sickness that must be cured. War is a time out of balance. When it is truly over, we must work to restore peace and sacred harmony once again.”
― Joseph Bruchac, Code Talker: A Novel About the Navajo Marines of World War Two

“The weakest ones are the wickedest cruel
When the strongest ones in gentleness rule!”
― Ana Claudia Antunes, The Witches Of Avignon

“True peace can rarely be imposed from the outside; it must be born within and between communities through meetings and dialogue and then carried outward.”
― Jean Vanier, Finding Peace

“Women particularly should concern themselves with peace because men by nature are more foolhardy and headstrong, and their overwhelming desire to avenge themselves prevents them from foreseeing the resulting dangers and terrors of war. But woman by nature is more gentle and circumspect. Therefore, if she has sufficient will and wisdom she can provide the best possible means to pacify man.”
― Christine de Pizan, The Treasure of the City of Ladies

“Let’s stand against the killing of innocent civilians. It is time to make the future better than today. Together we can bring peace and unity to our communities.”
― Widad Akreyi

“The thought that human beings are considering saving lives by killing millions of their fellow human beings is so preposterous that the words 'saving life' have lost all of their meaning. One of the most tragic facts of our century is that this 'No' to nuclear weapons has been spoken so seldom, so softly, and by so few.”
― Henri Houwen

“Good literature is one key to peace. When we stop reading each other, when we stop paying attention to each other's words and stories, we too easily oppose one another.”
― Dave DiGrazie

“Peace may be hard to achieve, but is possible with small yet essential steps that are guided by courage and sufficient commitment.”
― Widad Akrawi

“It is time to recognize the past and ongoing genocides to prevent new ones. Together we can build a better world!”
― Widad Akreyi

“How come we can invent better ways to kill each other, but not one to preserve peace!”
― Abhijit Naskar

“Our two peoples are sworn enemies,” he whispered. “You would not do it.”
“Call me your enemy no more,” Jan bade him, drawing nearer. “I grow weary of our being enemies. The scars your talons left upon my back this autumn past are old scars now, long healed. Time to heal this ancient rift between our peoples as well.”
― Meredith Ann Pierce

“Friedensliebe zeigt sich gerade darin, daß man seine Heimat nicht vergißt und eben deshalb entschlossen ist, alles zu tun, um immer in Frieden miteinander zu leben."

[Ansprache am 8. Mai 1985 in der Gedenkstunde im Plenarsaal des Deutschen Bundestages]”
― Richard von Weizsäcker

“I'll call a President Peacemaker, the day they sign the first executive order for nuclear disarmament. And I'll call the politicians peacemaker, when they work to turn that executive order into statutory law.”
― Abhijit Naskar, Mucize Misafir Merhaba: The Peace Testament

“Peace is not a matter of learning harmony, it's about unlearning division.”
― Abhijit Naskar, Divane Dynamite: Only truth in the cosmos is love

“Oddly enough, when we protect our peace, we might be sent to rest in peace.”
― Tamerlan Kuzgov

“Vessels are many, mission is just one.
When all burn with the habit of hateful divide,
Someone's gotta bring illumination.”
― Abhijit Naskar, Vande Vasudhaivam: 100 Sonnets for Our Planetary Pueblo

“Bomb the world with music, pizza and poetry you idiots, not Semtex, C4 and RDX.”
― Abhijit Naskar, Visvavictor: Kanima Akiyor Kainat

“Around the world or in our own back yards
There is large scale war or neighbors fighting
Around the world near and far, there is killing
What will we do?

Around the world or in our own back yards
There is large scale love and neighbors caring
Around the world near and far, are love and healing
What will we choose?”
― Emilyann Allen

“Citizens of earth could end all wars in a year - boycott all tax-filing unless your governments cease all defense activities for good.”
― Abhijit Naskar, Bulletproof Backbone: Injustice Not Allowed on My Watch

“Peace begins at the end of prejudice.”
― Abhijit Naskar, Either Right or Human: 300 Limericks of Inclusion

“There is no time for patience - there is no time for diplomacy - there is no time for policies, legislations and meaningless paperwork. It's enough already. Either stand up and rush to the aid of these war-stricken communities through whichever means possible or keep your mouth shut for the rest of your life.”
― Abhijit Naskar, Hurricane Humans: Give me accountability, I'll give you peace

“The primary lesson in the failure of the peace process and the violence of the second intifada is that there is very little reason for each side to trust the other. In peacemaking, that is not always a bad thing. It requires us to be a lot more careful. It forces us to plan for failure. And it should teach us to make much more intelligent agreements. Agreements that are based on a lack of trust or, even worse, on mistrust, can push us to ensure that we are more careful in taking risks and that we build in more mechanisms for dealing with breaches and breakdowns.”
― Gershon Baskin, In Pursuit of Peace in Israel and Palestine

“Military is legal terrorism.”
― Abhijit Naskar, Yaralardan Yangın Doğar: Explorers of Night are Emperors of Dawn

“While conflict is inevitable in friendship, friends also have the ability to tolerate each other’s needs and to resolve differences. As Frans de Waal writes, “Fires start, but fires go out…We know a great deal about the causes of hostile behavior in both animals and humans…Yet we know little of the way conflicts are avoided - or how, when they do occur, relationships are afterward repaired and normalized. In his wonderful book Peacemaking Among Primates, Frans de Waal makes the case that for all primates, humans included, “making peace is as natural as making war.”
― Michael G. Thompson, Best Friends, Worst Enemies: Understanding the Social Lives of Children

“Military is people-approved genocide.”
― Abhijit Naskar, Tum Dunya Tek Millet: Greatest Country on Earth is Earth

“Love of country is the root of all war.”
― Abhijit Naskar, World War Human: 100 New Earthling Sonnets