"I prefer the most unfair peace to the most righteous war."
Cicero
"The most disadvantageous peace is better than the most just war."
Desiderius Erasmus
"The arms race can kill, though the weapons themselves may never be
used...by their cost alone, armaments kill the poor by causing them to
starve."
Vatican statement to the U.N., 1976
"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
"Mankind must put an end to war, or war will put an end to mankind...War will exist until that distant day when the conscientious objector enjoys the same reputation and prestige that the warrior does today."
John F. Kennedy
"Peace is not merely a distant goal that we seek, but a means by which we arrive at that goal."
Martin Luther King, Jr.
"The past is prophetic in that it asserts loudly that wars are poor chisels for carving out peaceful tomorrows."
Martin Luther King, Jr.
"All we are saying is give peace a chance..."
John Lennon
"The best way to destroy an enemy is to make him a friend."
Abraham Lincoln
"Much violence is based on the illusion that life is a property to be defended and not to be shared."
Henri Nouwen
"If you wish to be brothers, let the arms fall from your hands. One cannot love while holding offensive arms."
Pope Pius VI
"More than an end to war, we want an end to the beginning of all wars -- yes, an end to this brutal, inhuman and thoroughly impractical method of settling the differences between governments."
Franklin D. Roosevelt.
"Observe good faith and justice toward all nations. Cultivate peace and harmony with all."
George Washington
"There must be, not a balance of power, but a community of power; not organized rivalries, but an organized peace.
Woodrow Wilson
Art
I am deeply humbled and honored that you decided to view this post. I hope that it is one of which you approve. As always I am happy for your visits.
Respectfully,
Art
Rodney Dangerfield and probably G. Dub
The did not make this post......perhaps a future one.
I have often wondered if there will ever be a time of peace during my liftime throughtout the world. I know I am being "hopeful" but it looks like I am not alone. As Rodney King said, "Can't we all just get along?"
Another GREAT post
These are some great quotes, Art. And look at the Quoted. These were men who were out living and dying for what they believed... not sitting on their dupas and thinking happy-peaceful thoughts like I sometimes find myself doing. I guess until you get up and do something about it, it's all just water color clouds painted on the ceiling.
For many, its difficult just to have peace in the home...so I say perhaps that is the best place to start and let is spread from there. We can all work on that way.
I have been a bit neglectful on that one.....but I shall provide you with an update before the end of the week in a new post. I hope service went well yesterday.
I respect your thoughts and I also like your resolve. Service to others is essential in making peace.
Mother Teresa
That is so true. If it doesnt begin there then its for naught.
The highest value, in my way of thinking, is peace.
peace, wayf
Seriously, how many of these men (or women) do you think came up with these quotes by themselves, and how many of them do you think were the product of someone else (like a speech writer for example.)
nice post.
IE:
"I prefer the most unfair peace to the most righteous war."
Cicero
"The most disadvantageous peace is better than the most just war."
Desiderius Erasmus
Is peace at all cost really peace? I wonder if the Jews would say that? Isn't the history lesson of WWII that we waited too LONG to enter, not that we entered too soon?
I was wondering if, as a black man, if you would prefer that the Civil War had never been fought? That was a HORRIBLE war in the sense that brothers were fighting against brothers........but where would the African-American (I've been corrected recently that 'black' is now considered a racial slur even though you use it in your blog title and I grew up with "black" people saying that was the term they wanted to be known by
I am anti-war, Art. I am. I hate death. Especially "untimely" death. Any death that occurs before one has lived a long and full life is an untimely death to me.
I could barely watch movies like Glory and The Patriot because I just start weeping for the bloodshed and wasted lives. As Harry Truman said, "War is hell". It is. I can't think of anything on earth that resembles more of what hell is really like than war. It is an earthly evil.
It is the culmination of all the playground fights, all the sibling rivalry, all the selfishness that we never repented of. It is the sin that resides inside each and everyone of us and finally builds up to the point where it just blows up and explodes all over our families, our villages and towns, our countries and our world.
We forget that there is an Almighty God and that we are not Him. We want to think that we are smart enough to fix everything that comes our way. But we are not smart enough to fix our sin, Art.
Only the blood can do that, amen? Only the blood. He made it so easy that even a child can understand the way to God, but the most intellectual person can't because their pride can't admit that Someone had to die. That blood had to be shed. That there are worse things in life than death. Going to hell for one, right? Then again, many of us are too sophisticated to believe in that either. So many people think they can WORK their way to heaven, or God, whatever their belief system is.......but isn't our righteousness like filthy rags compared to His?
I'm not sure whether all your commenters will get or care what I'm talking about but I know you will Art.
I just bought "THE IRON GIANT." It is an animated cartoon that was out a few years ago, but its anti-war message is DEEP and it is as meaningful to adults as it is to children. THIS IS A MUST HAVE IF YOU DON'T ALREADY OWN IT!!!!!!!!!!!! I've been wanting to own it for years and saw it for nine bucks at Wal-Mart today.
We are both history buffs then. Glad you liked the quotes. Lots of wisdom behind them. We will get this peace thing right one day.
I'm not sure how my comments inspired this post. And, while worldwide peace is a laudable goal, it's not going to happen in my lifetime, or yours, or anybody else's as long as there are differences between people and will ALWAYS be differences between people. It is the "different" that subconsciously translates to "suspicious" and therefore "bad" and therefore "enemy". We are not so removed from our beginnings that we can ignore the basic enmity between species and between members of the same species. Our saving grace is our ability to CHOOSE to overlook the differences. But we do have to consciously make that choice on an individual basis. It cannot be legislated, no matter how well meaning the legislation may be.
writer
I think most of them wrote them. Perhaps a few presidents may have had a bit of help, but they said it anyway....Good to see you again man.
I get what you are saying. You can say Black or African American, whatever you choose as long as when you say it, you dont mean to offend. I dont have those insecurities, but I know you know that. As for the Civil War, no....I wish it was never fought....but if we can go back and wish, then I wish my ancestors had not been enslaved, raped, beaten, tortured....and I can go on.....But just know that I do not think there was peace....there is no peace when you are controlled and enslaved.
I think when anyone sees and injustice peace cannot exist even in their own minds.....like in Africa.....people are dying, we do nothing, do we have peace.....not me.....not yet.....Peace to me does not include coercion.
Now to you final point....as a descendant of slaves I really do feel like you must find an inner peace within yourself even though you may endure physical hardships....like a POW may have solice in knowing that God is his redeemer and that no matter what happens the God Can change the situation whether he changes it for them or not. So yes, POH, I understand you....real peace is a God-given, God-inspired peace for most human beings.
I guess I am off to WalMart. I do so desire world peace....our quest for domination and leadership and control is definitely an impediment.
Not on purpose, man, not on purpose!
That's all it took, baby! Ol' POH was OFF.........ranting and raving about the Lord!
Okay, now, as for your argument that you wish the Civil War never had to be fought because you wish Americans had never enslaved the Africans. I am TOTALLY on the same page with you. The problem is our hearts though. One bad generation passes away and another is born. The reason we can't get rid of the problems, not totally, is because those cute babies.....the ones I gave birth to and the ones the county continues to send me, keep being born with sin in their hearts......
most likely they will out live me, just to live in an evil and angry world. Without Christ what hope is there for ultimate peace? In their own minds and hearts, let alone in the earth.
I totally agree with what you said about Africa too. Here we are spending millions to fight "a war on terror"......how about taking care of people who want our help. I'm not saying we should abide terrorists, I'm just saying we, as a country, have the ability to do so much more.
I have to end this by saying what I have said many times though.....I pray for peace on earth, but I don't believe that that is a reality until we get to heaven. There is no sin in heaven.....where there is no sin.............that is where there is peace. Ahhhh, sweet peace.
Perhaps you are right, but we must have hope. You inspired this post because you posed the question of whether we should focus on that which we have in common.....I think we all have the common belief that we should do what we can to live in peace regardless of our differences.
I think we do the best we can do and stop teaching our children to hate. Hatred and distrust is taught....we teach it to our kids in the names we call others and in the way we react to other races, sexual orientations, etc. Why not let kids just play with each other.....we don't, we seek to control their environments....we often stand in the way of our own peace. Of course other races and cultures must do the same in order for such a concept to work. But I totally understand your point. Perhaps I am just too optimistic. But look at Blacks and Whites, who knew we could live together without being at war with one another on a daily basis after slavery?
I knew you were going there all along, and I agree. I just desire that we can make this place as good as it can be for those who are here. You know I always enjoy your comments.....because they are sincere.
Thanks for dropping by and weighing in on this subject.
I count myself an optimist too. I commend you for this post and the one previous. The curious thing I have found to be true, both in the US and abroad, is a commonality of goals and interests that tend to outweigh and override differences. Ask the average Iraqi today his or her goals and the answers would be to have house, home, and be able to work and raise a family in peace.
I have been welcomed into far too many diverse homes and cultures to believe otherwise. Accord others respect and consideration and it returns manyfold.
We are on the same page. And I concur whole heartedly.