--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Peace is not merely the absence of…" description: "\"Peace is not merely the absence of visible conflict. Only a just peace based on the inherent rights and dignity of every individual can truly be lastin..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50a/barack-obama-17_absence_peace-is-not-merely-the-absence-of-visib_1237465.jpg" --- # Peace is not merely the absence of visible conflict. Only… ![“Peace is not merely the absence of visible conflict. Only a just peace based on the inherent rights and dignity of every individual can truly be lasting.” quote by Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50a/barack-obama-17_absence_peace-is-not-merely-the-absence-of-visib_1237465.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50a/barack-obama-17_absence_peace-is-not-merely-the-absence-of-visib_1237465.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50a/barack-obama-17_absence_peace-is-not-merely-the-absence-of-visib_1237465.jpg) > “Peace is not merely the absence of visible conflict. Only a just peace based on the inherent rights and dignity of every individual can truly be lasting.” [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True peace requires justice and respect for human rights, not just lack of conflict. **In simple terms:** Peace needs justice, not just quiet. Key Takeaway Advocate for rights-based peace. Themes peace justice human rights Mood serious optimistic Type political philosophical When to use this quote - policy making - community building - international relations Key Concepts political theory ethics Questions to Reflect On - How can societies ensure dignity for all? - What steps lead from ceasefire to lasting peace? A Different Perspective Achieving justice is complex and contested. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Absence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absence/) [Conflict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conflict/) [Conflict Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conflict-just-1025219/) [Dignity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dignity/) [Individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual/) [Inherent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inherent/) [Just Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just-peace-404463/) [Lasting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lasting/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Peace Based](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace-based-1837067/) [Peace Merely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace-merely-1267823/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) [Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights/) [Rights Dignity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights-dignity-1662986/) [Visible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/visible/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [We will stand against violence and intimidation. We will stand for the rights and dignity of all human beings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-will-stand-against-violence-and-intimidation-we-will-stand-for-the/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Peace is not merely the absence of visible conflict.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/peace-is-not-merely-the-absence-of-visible-conflict/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Reconciliation should be accompanied by justice, otherwise it will not last. While we all hope for peace it shouldn't be peace at any cost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corazon-aquino/reconciliation-should-be-accompanied-by-justice-otherwise-it-will-not/) [Corazon Aquino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corazon-aquino/) > [Genuine peace is based on inner peace, because you cannot build peace on the basis of anger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/genuine-peace-is-based-on-inner-peace-because-you-cannot-build-peace/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [There's conflict in everything, just trying to buy a used car you deal with people that you don't want to deal with, you know,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maynard-james-keenan/there-s-conflict-in-everything-just-trying-to-buy-a-used-car-you-deal/) [Maynard James Keenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maynard-james-keenan/) > [Knowing that pain and conflict is just change trying to happen, that there is something beautiful on the other side, that it is just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaime-murray/knowing-that-pain-and-conflict-is-just-change-trying-to-happen-that/) [Jaime Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaime-murray/) > [“--and in fact, we humans need conflict just like we need language, to help us define who we are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-stephen-meadows/and-in-fact-we-humans-need-conflict-just-like-we-need-language-to/) [Mark Stephen Meadows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-stephen-meadows/) > [I say if you fight terrorism, it's based in fear, but if you promote peace, it's based on hope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-mortenson/i-say-if-you-fight-terrorism-it-s-based-in-fear-but-if-you-promote/) [Greg Mortenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-mortenson/) > [With some actors, you can tell, just from their different backgrounds and their different approaches to working, they would have just a natural conflict,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taika-waititi/with-some-actors-you-can-tell-just-from-their-different-backgrounds/) [Taika Waititi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taika-waititi/) > [It doesn't take the most powerful nations on Earth to create the next global conflict. Just the will of a single man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-makarov/it-doesn-t-take-the-most-powerful-nations-on-earth-to-create-the-next/) [Vladimir Makarov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-makarov/) > [You can only have lasting peace based on justice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/you-can-only-have-lasting-peace-based-on-justice/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [My attitude to peace is rather based on the Burmese definition of peace - it really means removing all the negative factors that destroy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aung-san-suu-kyi/my-attitude-to-peace-is-rather-based-on-the-burmese-definition-of/) [Aung San Suu Kyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aung-san-suu-kyi/) > [The world does not need a war against 'terrorism', it needs a culture of peace based on human rights for all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irene-khan/the-world-does-not-need-a-war-against-terrorism-it-needs-a-culture-of/) [Irene Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irene-khan/) > [There can be no peace in the world so long as a large proportion of the population lack the necessities of life and believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boyd-orr/there-can-be-no-peace-in-the-world-so-long-as-a-large-proportion-of/) [John Boyd Orr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boyd-orr/) > [Unless the cause of peace based on law gathers behind it the force and zeal of a religion, it hardly can hope to succeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/unless-the-cause-of-peace-based-on-law-gathers-behind-it-the-force/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) ## More by Barack Obama > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The peaceful transition of power is one of the hallmarks of our democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-peaceful-transition-of-power-is-one-of-the-hallmarks-of-our/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [As opposed to getting into arguments about, well, these folks have been treated fairly so now we're going to be doing things that, very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/as-opposed-to-getting-into-arguments-about-well-these-folks-have-been/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Donald Trump is temperamentally unfit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/donald-trump-is-temperamentally-unfit/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [What we've said to the girls is: 'If you guys ever decide that you're going to get a tattoo, then mommy and me will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/what-we-ve-said-to-the-girls-is-if-you-guys-ever-decide-that-you-re/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Nobody is listening to your telephone calls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/nobody-is-listening-to-your-telephone-calls/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [All of us take offense to anyone who reaps the rewards of living in America without taking on the responsibilities of living in America.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/all-of-us-take-offense-to-anyone-who-reaps-the-rewards-of-living-in/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The world is complicated and full of grays, but there's still truth there to be found.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-world-is-complicated-and-full-of-grays-but-there-s-still-truth/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [ That is another theme in the book \[Dreams from My Father\]. How do we exercise more empathy in our public discourse? How do we… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/that-is-another-theme-in-the-book-dreams-from-my-father-how-do-we/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I can say across Europe that many principles that have been taken for granted here around free speech, and around civil liberties and an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-can-say-across-europe-that-many-principles-that-have-been-taken-for/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [So Americans understand the costs of war. 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I think that it refreshes our democracy. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/it-s-good-to-get-fresh-legs-in-the-white-house-i-think-that-it/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Believe it or not, entertainment is part of our American diplomacy, it is part of what makes us exceptional, part of what makes us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/believe-it-or-not-entertainment-is-part-of-our-american-diplomacy-it/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) [Explore all 3,624 Barack Obama quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) ## More Absence quotes > [Distance sometimes endears friendship, and absence sweeteneth it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-howell/distance-sometimes-endears-friendship-and-absence-sweeteneth-it/) [James Howell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-howell/) > [The work, the work, the work. This is what the business is all about. 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