---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Inner disarmament, external disarmament…"
description: "\"Inner disarmament, external disarmament; these must go together, you see. Peace is not just mere absence of violence - genuine peace must start in each..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f3/dalai-lama-89_absence_inner-disarmament-external-disarmament-t_1627121.jpg"
---

#  Inner disarmament, external disarmament; these must go…

![“Inner disarmament, external disarmament; these must go together, you see. Peace is not just mere absence of violence - genuine peace must start in each individual heart.” quote by Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f3/dalai-lama-89_absence_inner-disarmament-external-disarmament-t_1627121.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f3/dalai-lama-89_absence_inner-disarmament-external-disarmament-t_1627121.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f3/dalai-lama-89_absence_inner-disarmament-external-disarmament-t_1627121.jpg)

> “Inner disarmament, external disarmament; these must go together, you see. Peace is not just mere absence of violence - genuine peace must start in each individual heart.”

[Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Peace requires inner transformation and external disarmament together; both are essential.

**In simple terms:** Peace needs inner and outer change.

Key Takeaway

Cultivate inner peace first.

Themes

peace inner growth disarmament

Mood

calm hopeful

Type

spiritual political

When to use this quote

- meditation
- conflict mediation
- community building
- policy reform

Key Concepts

spirituality politics ethics

Questions to Reflect On

- Can inner peace influence societies?
- How to balance inner and outer peace?

A Different Perspective

Inner change alone may not stop violence.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Absence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absence/) [Disarmament](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disarmament/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Violence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violence/)

## Related quotes

> [There can be no true disarmament without peace, and there can be no real peace without very material disarmament.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/there-can-be-no-true-disarmament-without-peace-and-there-can-be-no/)

[Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/)

> [Many people today agree that we need to reduce violence in our society. If we are truly serious about this, we must deal with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/many-people-today-agree-that-we-need-to-reduce-violence-in-our/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [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/)

> [“I practiced what the Dalai Lama calls 'inner disarmament.' Of course, I still had judgments, but I tried to accept even my judgments without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-bray-pipher/i-practiced-what-the-dalai-lama-calls-inner-disarmament-of-course-i/)

[Mary Bray Pipher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-bray-pipher/)

> [Without trust, there can be no genuine peace. Neither in politics, nor in the quiet individuality of the heart and spirit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-zahn/without-trust-there-can-be-no-genuine-peace-neither-in-politics-nor/)

[Timothy Zahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-zahn/)

> [If you would have peace, genuine peace, you must accept all the aspects of your personality and learn to be comfortable with them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-llywelyn/if-you-would-have-peace-genuine-peace-you-must-accept-all-the-aspects/)

[Morgan Llywelyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-llywelyn/)

> [“Like a Columbus of the heart, mind and soul I have hurled myself off the shores of my own fears and limiting beliefs to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthon-st-maarten/like-a-columbus-of-the-heart-mind-and-soul-i-have-hurled-myself-off/)

[Anthon St. Maarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthon-st-maarten/)

> [I am talking about genuine peace, the kind of peace that makes life on earth worth living, the kind that enables men and nations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/i-am-talking-about-genuine-peace-the-kind-of-peace-that-makes-life-on/)

[John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/)

> [Genuine peace must be the product of many nations, the sum of many acts. It must be dynamic, not static, changing to meet the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/genuine-peace-must-be-the-product-of-many-nations-the-sum-of-many/)

[John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/)

> [ The antidote to hatred in the heart, the source of violence, is tolerance. Tolerance is an important virtue of bodhisattvas \[enlightened heroes and heroines\]… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/the-antidote-to-hatred-in-the-heart-the-source-of-violence-is/)

[Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/)

> [Anger and hatred cannot bring harmony. The noble task of arms control and disarmament cannot be accomplished by confrontation and condemnation. Hostile attitudes only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/anger-and-hatred-cannot-bring-harmony-the-noble-task-of-arms-control/)

[Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/)

> [Peace is not just the mere absence of violence or disturbance. It's when there is a possibility of conflict, but you deliberately avoid violence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/peace-is-not-just-the-mere-absence-of-violence-or-disturbance-it-s/)

[Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/)

> [Disarmament without checks is but a shadow - and a community without law is but a shell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/disarmament-without-checks-is-but-a-shadow-and-a-community-without/)

[John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/)

> [Obama spent the first two years of his administration practicing political unilateral disarmament.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cenk-uygur/obama-spent-the-first-two-years-of-his-administration-practicing/)

[Cenk Uygur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cenk-uygur/)

> [UN peacekeeping operations are now increasingly complex and multi-dimensional, going beyond monitoring a ceasefire to actually bringing failed States back to life, often after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/un-peacekeeping-operations-are-now-increasingly-complex-and-multi/)

[Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/)

## More by Dalai Lama

> [Although under particular circumstances, the violence method - any method - can be justified, nevertheless once you commit violence, then counterviolence will be returned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/although-under-particular-circumstances-the-violence-method-any/)

[Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/)

> [There are a number of qualities which are important for mental peace, but from the little experience I have, I believe that one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/there-are-a-number-of-qualities-which-are-important-for-mental-peace/)

[Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/)

> [In the interests of everyone the artist had a responsibility to use his medium well. In the Tibetan culture, most of the paintings are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/in-the-interests-of-everyone-the-artist-had-a-responsibility-to-use/)

[Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/)

> [If the mind is dominated by hatred, the best part of the brain, which is used to judge right and wrong, does not function…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/if-the-mind-is-dominated-by-hatred-the-best-part-of-the-brain-which/)

[Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/)

> [More compassionate mind, more sense of concern for other's well-being, is source of happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/more-compassionate-mind-more-sense-of-concern-for-other-s-well-being/)

[Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/)

> [Everybody loves to talk about calmness and peace, whether in a family, national, or international context, but without inner peace how can we make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/everybody-loves-to-talk-about-calmness-and-peace-whether-in-a-family/)

[Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/)

> [The only "definitive truth" for Buddhism is the absolute negation of any one truth as the Definitive Truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/the-only-definitive-truth-for-buddhism-is-the-absolute-negation-of/)

[Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/)

> [We can change society, change humanity by changing ourselves as individuals. By cultivating inner values, we can change our own lives and those of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/we-can-change-society-change-humanity-by-changing-ourselves-as/)

[Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/)

> [I don't want to convert people to Buddhism — all major religions, when understood properly, have the same potential for good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/i-don-t-want-to-convert-people-to-buddhism-all-major-religions-when/)

[Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/)

> [There is no way to escape death, it is just like trying to escape by four great mountains touching sky. There is no escape…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/there-is-no-way-to-escape-death-it-is-just-like-trying-to-escape-by/)

[Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/)

> [We live within the environment. So that directly relates with our survival, our life. So through that way, more concern of well being of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/we-live-within-the-environment-so-that-directly-relates-with-our/)

[Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/)

> [My belief is that the various religious traditions have great potential to increase compassion, the sense of caring for one another, and the spirit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/my-belief-is-that-the-various-religious-traditions-have-great/)

[Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/)

> [When we think carefully, we see that the brief elation we experience when appeasing sensual impulses may not be very different from what the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/when-we-think-carefully-we-see-that-the-brief-elation-we-experience/)

[Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/)

> [“So let us reflect on what is truly of value in life, what gives meaning to our lives, and set our priorities on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/so-let-us-reflect-on-what-is-truly-of-value-in-life-what-gives/)

[Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/)

> [I am the source of my own suffering, because of the habits of my mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/i-am-the-source-of-my-own-suffering-because-of-the-habits-of-my-mind/)

[Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/)

[Explore all 1,406 Dalai Lama quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/)

## 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. This is the fun, the glory, the pleasure. It's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-dusenberry/the-work-the-work-the-work-this-is-what-the-business-is-all-about/)

[Phil Dusenberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-dusenberry/)

> [Total depravity means the entire absence of holiness, not the highest intensity of sin. A totally depraved man is not as bad as he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-greenough-thayer-shedd/total-depravity-means-the-entire-absence-of-holiness-not-the-highest/)

[William Greenough Thayer Shedd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-greenough-thayer-shedd/)

> [Local and state governments have outrun the federal government. The EPA has served notice that it will enact a rule requiring CO2 reductions by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/local-and-state-governments-have-outrun-the-federal-government-the/)

[Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/)

> [There, in the center of that silence was not eternity but the death of time and a loneliness so profound the word itself had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/there-in-the-center-of-that-silence-was-not-eternity-but-the-death-of/)

[Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/)

> [Of all the bewildering things about a new country, the absence of human landmarks is one of the most depressing and disheartening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willa-cather/of-all-the-bewildering-things-about-a-new-country-the-absence-of/)

[Willa Cather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willa-cather/)

> [Young men have strong passions and tend to gratify them indiscriminately. Of the bodily desires, it is the sexual by which they are most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/young-men-have-strong-passions-and-tend-to-gratify-them/)

[Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/)

> [It is suggested that in domestic violence at least the presence or absence of a firearm, or of any other type of weapon, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-greenwood/it-is-suggested-that-in-domestic-violence-at-least-the-presence-or/)

[Colin Greenwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-greenwood/)

> [The absence of God in most spheres of life is perceived to be normal, and even Christians feel it as normal - which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/the-absence-of-god-in-most-spheres-of-life-is-perceived-to-be-normal/)

[John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/)

> [Every person needs to take one day away. A day in which one consciously separates the past from the future. Jobs, family, employers, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/every-person-needs-to-take-one-day-away-a-day-in-which-one/)

[Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/)

> [“I was thinking how most people don't make you feel much of anything at all. Don't make you feel like time spent with them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-lotter/i-was-thinking-how-most-people-don-t-make-you-feel-much-of-anything/)

[Jane Lotter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-lotter/)

> [Cooperation isn't the absence of conflict but a means of managing conflict.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-tannen/cooperation-isn-t-the-absence-of-conflict-but-a-means-of-managing/)

[Deborah Tannen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-tannen/)

> [Many are observing Ferguson and witnessing the anger, demonstrations, looting and vandalism and calling for quiet. But quiet isn't enough. The absence of noise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/many-are-observing-ferguson-and-witnessing-the-anger-demonstrations/)

[Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/)

> [Will capitalist economies operate at full employment in the absence of routine intervention? Certainly not. Are deviations from full employment a social problem? Obviously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-yellen/will-capitalist-economies-operate-at-full-employment-in-the-absence/)

[Janet Yellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-yellen/)

> [We must begin by acknowledging that there is a complete absence of two things in Indian Society. One of these is equality. On the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-r-ambedkar/we-must-begin-by-acknowledging-that-there-is-a-complete-absence-of/)

[B. R. Ambedkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-r-ambedkar/)

[Browse all 2,057 Absence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absence/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Inner disarmament, external disarmament; these must go together, you see. Peace is not just mere absence of violence - genuine peace must start in each individual heart.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Dalai Lama"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/inner-disarmament-external-disarmament-these-must-go-together-you-see/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Absence"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/inner-disarmament-external-disarmament-these-must-go-together-you-see/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f3/dalai-lama-89_absence_inner-disarmament-external-disarmament-t_1627121.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f3/dalai-lama-89_absence_inner-disarmament-external-disarmament-t_1627121.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f3/dalai-lama-89_absence_inner-disarmament-external-disarmament-t_1627121.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Inner disarmament, external disarmament; these must go together, you see. Peace is not just mere absence of…” — Dalai Lama",
                "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": "Dalai Lama",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Inner disarmament, external disarmament; these must...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/inner-disarmament-external-disarmament-these-must-go-together-you-see/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/inner-disarmament-external-disarmament-these-must-go-together-you-see/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
