--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: peace is maintained by the equilibrium of…" description: "\"“peace is maintained by the equilibrium of forces, and will continue just as long as this equilibrium exists, and no longer.”\" — Carl von Clausewitz" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ea/carl-von-clausewitz-2060_equilibrium_peace-is-maintained-by-the-equilibrium-o_774801.jpg" --- # peace is maintained by the equilibrium of forces, and will… ![“peace is maintained by the equilibrium of forces, and will continue just as long as this equilibrium exists, and no longer.” quote by Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ea/carl-von-clausewitz-2060_equilibrium_peace-is-maintained-by-the-equilibrium-o_774801.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ea/carl-von-clausewitz-2060_equilibrium_peace-is-maintained-by-the-equilibrium-o_774801.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ea/carl-von-clausewitz-2060_equilibrium_peace-is-maintained-by-the-equilibrium-o_774801.jpg) > ““peace is maintained by the equilibrium of forces, and will continue just as long as this equilibrium exists, and no longer.”” [Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Peace persists only while forces stay balanced; loss of balance ends peace. **In simple terms:** Peace equals balanced power. Key Takeaway Maintain equilibrium. Themes power balance peace Mood analytical cautious Type strategic philosophical When to use this quote - diplomacy - military planning - conflict prevention Key Concepts political science strategic studies Questions to Reflect On - What mechanisms sustain balance? - How to respond when equilibrium shifts? A Different Perspective Balance can be fragile and temporary. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Equilibrium](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equilibrium/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) ## Related quotes > [Everything lives by movement, everything is maintained by equilibrium, and harmony results from the analogy of contraries; this law is the form of forms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliphas-levi/everything-lives-by-movement-everything-is-maintained-by-equilibrium/) [Eliphas Levi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliphas-levi/) > [“The contention that a standing army and navy is the best security of peace is about as logical as the claim that the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/the-contention-that-a-standing-army-and-navy-is-the-best-security-of-2/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [The experience of every-day life fully proves that the armed individual is invariably anxious to try his strength. The same is historically true of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/the-experience-of-every-day-life-fully-proves-that-the-armed/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [If peace cannot be maintained with honour, it is no longer peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-peace-cannot-be-maintained-with-honour-it-is-no-longer-peace/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I was born in 1962, and it seems that throughout my entire life the world has demanded peace but maintained conflict.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/i-was-born-in-1962-and-it-seems-that-throughout-my-entire-life-the/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [“If peace is to be maintained, it must be by brave men, who have come up to the same height as the hero, namely,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-peace-is-to-be-maintained-it-must-be-by-brave-men-who-have-come-up/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The invention of gunpowder and the constant improvement of firearms are enough in themselves to show that the advance of civilization has done nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/the-invention-of-gunpowder-and-the-constant-improvement-of-firearms/) [Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/) > [Politics is the womb in which war develops.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/politics-is-the-womb-in-which-war-develops/) [Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/) > [In harmony with the Tao, the sky is clear and spacious, the earth is solid and full, all creature flourish together, content with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/in-harmony-with-the-tao-the-sky-is-clear-and-spacious-the-earth-is/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [It cannot but happen?that those will survive whose functions happen to be most nearly in equilibrium with the modified aggregate of external forces? This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/it-cannot-but-happen-that-those-will-survive-whose-functions-happen/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [No one imposes things on anyone in Europe. That's not my notion, nor is it my temperament. The EU has always functioned under the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-hollande/no-one-imposes-things-on-anyone-in-europe-that-s-not-my-notion-nor-is/) [Francois Hollande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-hollande/) > [Inside movement there is one moment in which the elements are in balance. Photography must seize the importance of this moment and hold immobile…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-cartier-bresson/inside-movement-there-is-one-moment-in-which-the-elements-are-in/) [Henri Cartier-Bresson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-cartier-bresson/) > [I'd like to be able to do complex math in my head. Any kind of adversity and I become very anxious, but if you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-woods/i-d-like-to-be-able-to-do-complex-math-in-my-head-any-kind-of/) [Zach Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-woods/) > [Perhaps the universe is nothing but an equilibrium of idiocies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-santayana/perhaps-the-universe-is-nothing-but-an-equilibrium-of-idiocies/) [George Santayana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-santayana/) > [Balance suggests a perfect equilibrium. There is no such thing. That is a false expectation… There are going to be priorities and dimensions of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-morrison/balance-suggests-a-perfect-equilibrium-there-is-no-such-thing-that-is/) [Denise Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-morrison/) ## More by Carl von Clausewitz > [Only great and general battles can produce great results](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/only-great-and-general-battles-can-produce-great-results/) [Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/) > [The invention of gunpowder and the constant improvement of firearms are enough in themselves to show that the advance of civilization has done nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/the-invention-of-gunpowder-and-the-constant-improvement-of-firearms/) [Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/) > [Politics is the womb in which war develops.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/politics-is-the-womb-in-which-war-develops/) [Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/) > [ Rather than comparing \[war\] to art we could more accurately compare it to commerce, which is also a conflict of human interests and activities;… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/rather-than-comparing-war-to-art-we-could-more-accurately-compare-it/) [Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/) > [Savage peoples are ruled by passion, civilized peoples by the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/savage-peoples-are-ruled-by-passion-civilized-peoples-by-the-mind/) [Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/) > [After we have thought out everything carefully in advance and have sought and found without prejudice the most plausible plan, we must not be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/after-we-have-thought-out-everything-carefully-in-advance-and-have/) [Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/) > [Intelligence alone is not courage, we often see that the most intelligent people are irresolute. Since in the rush of events a man is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/intelligence-alone-is-not-courage-we-often-see-that-the-most/) [Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/) > [The great uncertainty of all data in war is because all action, to a certain extent, planned in a mere twilight - like the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/the-great-uncertainty-of-all-data-in-war-is-because-all-action-to-a/) [Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/) > [Self-reliance is the best defence against the pressures of the moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/self-reliance-is-the-best-defence-against-the-pressures-of-the-moment/) [Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/) > [War is the realm of uncertainty; three-quarters of the factors on which action in war is based are wrapped in a fog of greater…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/war-is-the-realm-of-uncertainty-three-quarters-of-the-factors-on/) [Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/) > [We repeat again: strength of character does not consist solely in having powerful feelings, but in maintaining one’s balance in spite of them. Even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/we-repeat-again-strength-of-character-does-not-consist-solely-in/) [Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/) > [There is only one decisive victory: the last.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/there-is-only-one-decisive-victory-the-last/) [Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/) > [A conqueror is always a lover of peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/a-conqueror-is-always-a-lover-of-peace/) [Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/) > [War is nothing but a continuation of politics with the admixture of other means.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/war-is-nothing-but-a-continuation-of-politics-with-the-admixture-of/) [Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/) > [War is not merely a political act but a real political instrument, a continuation of political intercourse, a carrying out of the same by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/war-is-not-merely-a-political-act-but-a-real-political-instrument-a/) [Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/) [Explore all 181 Carl von Clausewitz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/) ## More Equilibrium quotes > [Balance suggests a perfect equilibrium. There is no such thing. That is a false expectation… There are going to be priorities and dimensions of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-morrison/balance-suggests-a-perfect-equilibrium-there-is-no-such-thing-that-is/) [Denise Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-morrison/) > [Perhaps the universe is nothing but an equilibrium of idiocies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-santayana/perhaps-the-universe-is-nothing-but-an-equilibrium-of-idiocies/) [George Santayana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-santayana/) > [I'd like to be able to do complex math in my head. Any kind of adversity and I become very anxious, but if you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-woods/i-d-like-to-be-able-to-do-complex-math-in-my-head-any-kind-of/) [Zach Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-woods/) > [Inside movement there is one moment in which the elements are in balance. Photography must seize the importance of this moment and hold immobile…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-cartier-bresson/inside-movement-there-is-one-moment-in-which-the-elements-are-in/) [Henri Cartier-Bresson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-cartier-bresson/) > [No one imposes things on anyone in Europe. That's not my notion, nor is it my temperament. The EU has always functioned under the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-hollande/no-one-imposes-things-on-anyone-in-europe-that-s-not-my-notion-nor-is/) [Francois Hollande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-hollande/) > [It cannot but happen?that those will survive whose functions happen to be most nearly in equilibrium with the modified aggregate of external forces? This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/it-cannot-but-happen-that-those-will-survive-whose-functions-happen/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [In harmony with the Tao, the sky is clear and spacious, the earth is solid and full, all creature flourish together, content with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/in-harmony-with-the-tao-the-sky-is-clear-and-spacious-the-earth-is/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [Rights are a protection from society. But only by fulfilling their obligations to society can the individual give meaning to that protection. (V -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ralston-saul/rights-are-a-protection-from-society-but-only-by-fulfilling-their/) [John Ralston Saul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ralston-saul/) > [The concept of minimalism is to relax. Like a Zen monk in training, it is something that brings equilibrium to the heart. I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/takashi-murakami/the-concept-of-minimalism-is-to-relax-like-a-zen-monk-in-training-it/) [Takashi Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/takashi-murakami/) > [In anger, my hostility is directed toward another's action and can be extinguished by getting even - an action that reestablishes the equilibrium.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-elster/in-anger-my-hostility-is-directed-toward-another-s-action-and-can-be/) [Jon Elster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-elster/) > [We learned to build our emotional muscles, helping us make it through major market falls and grind through the trying times without losing our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-chandler/we-learned-to-build-our-emotional-muscles-helping-us-make-it-through/) [Richard Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-chandler/) > [Equilibrium is the profoundest tendency of all human activity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-piaget/equilibrium-is-the-profoundest-tendency-of-all-human-activity/) [Jean Piaget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-piaget/) > [As there must be moderation in other things, so there must be moderation in self-criticism. Perpetual contemplation of our own actions produces a morbid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/as-there-must-be-moderation-in-other-things-so-there-must-be/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [Beauty is not the purpose of creation, it is its reward. Its appearance, often late in the day, is no more than an indication…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brassai/beauty-is-not-the-purpose-of-creation-it-is-its-reward-its-appearance/) [Brassai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brassai/) > [In our wildest aberrations we dream of an equilibrium we have left behind and which we naively expect to find at the end of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/in-our-wildest-aberrations-we-dream-of-an-equilibrium-we-have-left/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) [Browse all 333 Equilibrium quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equilibrium/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“peace is maintained by the equilibrium of forces, and will continue just as long as this equilibrium exists, and no longer.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Carl von Clausewitz" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/peace-is-maintained-by-the-equilibrium-of-forces-and-will-continue/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Equilibrium" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/peace-is-maintained-by-the-equilibrium-of-forces-and-will-continue/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ea/carl-von-clausewitz-2060_equilibrium_peace-is-maintained-by-the-equilibrium-o_774801.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ea/carl-von-clausewitz-2060_equilibrium_peace-is-maintained-by-the-equilibrium-o_774801.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ea/carl-von-clausewitz-2060_equilibrium_peace-is-maintained-by-the-equilibrium-o_774801.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“peace is maintained by the equilibrium of forces, and will continue just as long as this equilibrium exists…” — Carl von Clausewitz", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Carl von Clausewitz", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“peace is maintained by the equilibrium...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/peace-is-maintained-by-the-equilibrium-of-forces-and-will-continue/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/peace-is-maintained-by-the-equilibrium-of-forces-and-will-continue/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```