When I was defense minister, I was very popular, and now that I'm president, I'm unpopular because I'm trying to make peace. It's much easier to make war and get trophies.
Juan Manuel SantosRead
That's what peace processes are about - changing bullets for votes.
Interpretation
Peace processes aim to replace violence with democratic participation.
This quote by Juan Manuel Santos emphasizes the transformative nature of peace processes, highlighting the importance of shifting from violent conflict ('bullets') to peaceful democratic engagement ('votes'). It reflects the notion that sustainable peace is achieved through political dialogue and legitimate representation rather than armed confrontation.
In practice
This quote could be used in a speech about the importance of democratic processes in conflict resolution.
When I was defense minister, I was very popular, and now that I'm president, I'm unpopular because I'm trying to make peace. It's much easier to make war and get trophies.
By its existence, the Peace Movement denies that governments know best; it stands for a different order of priorities: the human race comes first.
Peace is the best time for improvement and preparation of every kind; it is in peace that our commerce flourishes most, that taxes are most easily paid, and that the revenue is most productive.
Finally, the Program aims, through these means, to bring a little more knowledge, a little more reason, and a little more compassion into world affairs and thereby to increase the chance that nations will learn at last to live in peace and friendship.
It takes a few to make war, but it takes a village and a nation to build peace.
The Nobel Peace Prize is a powerful message. A durable peace is not a single achievement, but an environment, a process and a commitment.
I come bearing an olive branch in one hand, and the freedom fighter's gun in the other. Do not let the olive branch fall from my hand.
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