In a world built on violence, one must be a revolutionary before one can be a pacifist.
A. J. MusteRead
There is no way to peace. Peace is the way.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Peace is not a destination but a journey; it is created through our actions and intentions.
A. J. Muste's quote emphasizes that peace should not be viewed as a goal to be achieved in the future, but rather as a process and practice that we engage in through our everyday lives. It reflects the idea that the pursuit of peace involves actively embodying principles of harmony and understanding, rather than merely hoping for a peaceful world without taking initiative to create it.
Themes
PeaceJourneyActionHarmonyUnderstanding
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about conflict resolution at a community event.
More from A. J. Muste
All quotes βWe cannot have peace if we are only concerned with peace. War is not an accident. It is the logical outcome of a certain way of life. If we want to attack war, we have to attack that way of life.
A. J. MusteRead
There is a certain indolence in us, a wish not to be disturbed, which tempts us to think that when things are quiet, all is well. Subconsciously, we tend to give the preference to 'social peace,' though it be only apparent, because our lives and possessions seem then secure. Actually, human beings acquiesce too easily in evil conditions; they rebel far too little and too seldom. There is nothing noble about acquiescence in a cramped life or mere submission to superior force.
A. J. MusteRead
Similar quotes
Wine is like the incarnation--it is both divine and human
Paul TillichRead
Society everywhere is in conspiracy against the manhood of every one of its members. The virtue in most request is conformity. Self-reliance is its aversion. It loves not realities and creators, but names and customs.
Ralph Waldo EmersonRead
Every human being is intended to have a character of his own; to be what no others are, and to do what no other can do.
William Ellery ChanningRead
Bad company is like a nail driven into a post, which, after the first and second blow, may be drawn out with little difficulty; but being once driven up to the head, the pincers cannot take hold to draw it out, but which can only be done by the destruction of the wood.
Saint AugustineRead
Before me, even as behind, God is, and all is well.
John Greenleaf WhittierRead
When a legislature decides to steal some of our rights and plans to use police force to accomplish it, what's the real difference between them and the thief? Darn little! They hide behind the excuse that they're legislating democratically. The fact they do it by a majority vote has no moral significance whatsoever. Numerical might does not constitute right, no more than a lynch mob can justify its act because a majority participated.
H. L. RichardsonRead