Baruch Spinoza Quote - Liberty Quotes Blog

"Peace is not an absence of war, it is a virtue, a state of mind,
a disposition for benevolence, confidence, justice."

by:	Baruch Spinoza (1632-1677) Dutch philosopher of�Sephardi�Portuguese�origin
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Categories:	Compassion, Conscience, Courage, Justice, Peace, Virtue, War
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Reader comments about this quote:

-- Mike, Norwalk
True, but far from sufficient. -- Anonymous, Reston, VA US
If it's true, how does it rate only 1 star? -- Joe, Rochester, MI
Wonderful--but far,far, far, far from sufficient (thanks Reston)... It is perhaps fine under normal circumstances--when one has the luxury of debating such niceties and it really doesn't matter. All of that comes to a screeching halt when someone is bound and determined to kill you. Nebulous "visualize world peace" mind games are no match for a dagger at the throat for reality. -- Michael, Houston
It's essence is what deserves 5 stars - we could talk all day about its meaning - perhaps there wouldn't be a dagger at the throat if we had that "state of mind" -- Robert, Sarasota
Absence of war may not equal peace -- our “cold war”, for instance -- but it sure beats a presence of war. It might even be good for keeping one’s guard up. Just make sure you have responsible leaders, and not some trigger-happy cowboy who doesn’t simply guard his country but taunts and threatens other nations …even invading them, provided they’re not over one tenth your size and you’ve had inspectors on the ground there for months first. -- Jack, Green, OH
Inner peace breeds outer peace. -- E Archer, NYC
Robert and E Archer. Surely you jest. States of mind don't create reality. One can be at peace on the inside and still have maniacal enemies who will NEVER be at peace with anyone. (BTW: what do you call someone who is so concerned about their own peace that they are willing to watch attrocities? Cowards? Frauds? Selfish?) If you are willing to be "peaceful" while someone lops off your head...so be it...volunteers are accepted. However, that is normally called suicide, or lunacy. Excuse me, and others, who refuse to let you speak for us, or families, or our nation on that one. No one outside some new age eutopians believes it because because history proves it just ain't so. This is precisely what makes having a reasonable conversation so difficult...some people live in a world so silly and naive that even a 13 year old would know better--certainly it is not worth of an adult. Sorry for the reality check. So, what do you do about real enemies with real ill intentions, with real means to carry them out, and who refuse to be pacified? I realize those are just details, but I would really like to know. And..if you don't have an answer...please go somehwere with like minded ones, debate all you want, and leave the real world to adults. -- AEGIS
I couldn't have said it better myself, AEGIS. Pragmatism keeps you alive in a dangerous world-not pie in the sky dreaming. -- Ken, Allyn, WA
Thanks Ken Sometimes, I need a roll of duct tape to keep my head from exploding. I am considering a book called "Bubbleology"...and one of its first chapters will be on the infantile and self absorbed philosophy that what goes on inside a person will automatically change the universe around them ie "visualize whirled peas" or something (ha)--as if they were God Himself...Hmmmm...maybe THAT is what they really think (hint, hint). Go for it. -- AEGIS

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