This month, we’ve been asked to think about quotes relating to peace.
I know that personal peace is vitally important, but it’s all a bit chicken and egg for me at the moment: how can you have personal peace if you are confronted by war? How can you advocate peace when you don’t have peace within yourself?
These feelings defined my search for peace quotes, and it took me a while to get to grips with the challenge. But after a bit of a search I found this:
‘Let war yield to peace, laurels to paeans’
This quote is by Cicero, around 50BC. The ‘laurels to paeans’ part I particularly appreciate because if we were to update it, we’d say stop celebrating might and start celebrating art. The pen is mightier than the sword, after all…
But, being me, I wasn’t done. I wanted something that has a place in modern life, and I found this:
‘Nation shall speak peace unto nation’
This is attributed to Montague John Rendall in 1927 (yes, modern is a relative term!) and is on the coat of arms of the BBC.
I didn’t know this was their motto until this month! But the BBC is a global organisation, and this motto, if used, could be transmitted around the globe. Wouldn’t that be a great way to spread the concept of peace?
There are hundreds of quotes about peace, from religious books to song lyrics, from great orators from important political movements and from statesmen across the world. What matters though is not what is said, so much as what is done as a result. A simple act can make a big difference, on a personal level. After all, whether the chicken or the egg comes first, we need both of them.
So finally, there is one more quote I wanted to share this month:
‘Peace begins with a smile’
I’ve barely spoken about writing in this month’s post (or those from last month either); but in searching for peaceful quotes I’ve been inspired to share my poem for peace more widely, and to write about war, and human struggles – more on that another time.
For now, be peaceful.
EJ
🙂
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Mahalo for linking to my post.
I love that you shared three quotes and your beautiful poem of peace found in solitude. What a wonderful wrap-up of the challenge.
Thank you 🙂
I had never heard the quote you shared before but I thought it was wonderful, and the photo you posted looked like the kind of space I need to create for myself, a little area to be calm and quiet. I had to share it because it was so soothing!
🙂
Mahalo. Yes, it is nice to have a space for calm and quiet.
[…] Becoming a Writer […]
I really like the BBC motto – when i was living in Leeds I used to walk past their building where it is inscribed above the doors.
Thanks for linking back to me too 🙂
I’m glad someone has seen it; it was news (ho ho) to me. I thought yours was a lovely approach, different to mine and a very soothing bit of poetry 🙂
Glad you liked it 🙂
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