--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The only thing for a pacifist to do is to…" description: "\"The only thing for a pacifist to do is to find a substitute for war.\" — Freya Stark" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e8/freya-stark-3403_inspirational_the-only-thing-for-a-pacifist-to-do-is-t_580694.png" --- # The only thing for a pacifist to do is to find a… ![“The only thing for a pacifist to do is to find a substitute for war.” quote by Freya Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e8/freya-stark-3403_inspirational_the-only-thing-for-a-pacifist-to-do-is-t_580694.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e8/freya-stark-3403_inspirational_the-only-thing-for-a-pacifist-to-do-is-t_580694.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e8/freya-stark-3403_inspirational_the-only-thing-for-a-pacifist-to-do-is-t_580694.png) > “The only thing for a pacifist to do is to find a substitute for war.” [Freya Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freya-stark/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Pacifists must seek non‑violent alternatives to conflict. **In simple terms:** Find peace alternatives to war. Key Takeaway Explore creative conflict resolution. Themes pacifism peace alternatives Mood serious hopeful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - diplomacy - community mediation - activism Key Concepts non‑violence ethics Questions to Reflect On - What non‑violent tools can you employ? - When is compromise insufficient? A Different Perspective Non‑violent solutions may be impractical in extreme threats. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Pacifist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pacifist/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [It seems to me that the only thing for a pacifist to do is to find a substitute for war: mountains and seafaring are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freya-stark/it-seems-to-me-that-the-only-thing-for-a-pacifist-to-do-is-to-find-a/) [Freya Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freya-stark/) > [If we wish to substitute for war the settlement of disputes by justice, we must first substitute for the condition of international anarchy a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-hermann-fried/if-we-wish-to-substitute-for-war-the-settlement-of-disputes-by/) Alfred Hermann Fried > [I see this as the central issue of our time: how to find a substitute for war in human ingenuity, imagination, courage, sacrifice, patience...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/i-see-this-as-the-central-issue-of-our-time-how-to-find-a-substitute/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [War is not in itself a condition so much as the symptom of a condition, that of international anarchy. If we wish to substitute…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-hermann-fried/war-is-not-in-itself-a-condition-so-much-as-the-symptom-of-a/) Alfred Hermann Fried > [The creative conquest of space will serve as a wonderful substitute for war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-creative-conquest-of-space-will-serve-as-a-wonderful-substitute/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Politics is a substitute for violence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-gephardt/politics-is-a-substitute-for-violence/) [Dick Gephardt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-gephardt/) > [Our policy is European and Euro-Atlantic integration. There is no substitute for NATO.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bidzina-ivanishvili/our-policy-is-european-and-euro-atlantic-integration-there-is-no/) [Bidzina Ivanishvili](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bidzina-ivanishvili/) > [Christ is a substitute for everything, but nothing is a substitute for Christ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/christ-is-a-substitute-for-everything-but-nothing-is-a-substitute-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [But rules cannot substitute for character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-greenspan/but-rules-cannot-substitute-for-character/) [Alan Greenspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-greenspan/) > [In war, indeed, there can be no substitute for victory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-macarthur/in-war-indeed-there-can-be-no-substitute-for-victory/) [Douglas MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-macarthur/) > [There is no substitute for intuition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-klee/there-is-no-substitute-for-intuition/) [Paul Klee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-klee/) > [The best way to build team chemistry is the way Rupp used to substitute, when they fouled out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-smith/the-best-way-to-build-team-chemistry-is-the-way-rupp-used-to/) [Dean Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-smith/) > [Typing is no substitute for thinking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hamming/typing-is-no-substitute-for-thinking/) [Richard Hamming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hamming/) > [... law is a substitute for love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-mccloy/law-is-a-substitute-for-love/) [Helen McCloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-mccloy/) > [You leave out God, and you substitute the devil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/you-leave-out-god-and-you-substitute-the-devil/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) ## More by Freya Stark > [I do think we should be provided with a new body about the age of thirty or so when we have learnt to attend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freya-stark/i-do-think-we-should-be-provided-with-a-new-body-about-the-age-of/) [Freya Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freya-stark/) > [The world has become too full of many things, an over furnished room.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freya-stark/the-world-has-become-too-full-of-many-things-an-over-furnished-room/) [Freya Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freya-stark/) > [From love one can only escape at the price of life itself; and no lessening of sorrow is worth exile from that stream of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freya-stark/from-love-one-can-only-escape-at-the-price-of-life-itself-and-no/) [Freya Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freya-stark/) > [The unexpectedness of life, waiting round every corner, catches even wise women unawares (...) To avoid corners altogether is, after all, to refuse to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freya-stark/the-unexpectedness-of-life-waiting-round-every-corner-catches-even/) [Freya Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freya-stark/) > [Words are the only arteries of thought our poor human body possesses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freya-stark/words-are-the-only-arteries-of-thought-our-poor-human-body-possesses/) [Freya Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freya-stark/) > [The past is our treasure. Its works, whether we know them or not, flourish in our lives with whatever strength they had. From it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freya-stark/the-past-is-our-treasure-its-works-whether-we-know-them-or-not/) [Freya Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freya-stark/) > [On the other hand, there is a certain advantage in traveling with someone who has a reputation for shooting rather than being shot: as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freya-stark/on-the-other-hand-there-is-a-certain-advantage-in-traveling-with/) [Freya Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freya-stark/) > [If one were given a single window from which to look upon the changing Eastern world, it should face, I think, the road.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freya-stark/if-one-were-given-a-single-window-from-which-to-look-upon-the/) [Freya Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freya-stark/) > [advertisement ... has brought our disregard for truth into the open without even a figleaf to cover it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freya-stark/advertisement-has-brought-our-disregard-for-truth-into-the-open/) [Freya Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freya-stark/) > [Who dares to be intellectual in the presence of death?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freya-stark/who-dares-to-be-intellectual-in-the-presence-of-death/) [Freya Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freya-stark/) > [The Persian's mind, like his illuminated manuscripts, does not deal in perspective: two thousand years, if he happens to know anything about them, are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freya-stark/the-persian-s-mind-like-his-illuminated-manuscripts-does-not-deal-in/) [Freya Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freya-stark/) > [Curiosity is the one thing invincible in Nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freya-stark/curiosity-is-the-one-thing-invincible-in-nature/) [Freya Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freya-stark/) > [There are, I sometimes think, only two sorts of people in this world - the settled and the nomad - and there is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freya-stark/there-are-i-sometimes-think-only-two-sorts-of-people-in-this-world/) [Freya Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freya-stark/) > [Nearly all trouble comes from mis-timing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freya-stark/nearly-all-trouble-comes-from-mis-timing/) [Freya Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freya-stark/) > [“I have no reason to go, except that I have never been, and knowledge is better than ignorance. What better reason could there be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freya-stark/i-have-no-reason-to-go-except-that-i-have-never-been-and-knowledge-is/) [Freya Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freya-stark/) [Explore all 131 Freya Stark quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freya-stark/) ## More Inspirational quotes > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We talk to God--that is prayer; God talks to us--that is inspiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-emilie-cady/we-talk-to-god-that-is-prayer-god-talks-to-us-that-is-inspiration/) [H. Emilie Cady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-emilie-cady/) > [You cant be controlling in improv.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-walsh/you-cant-be-controlling-in-improv/) [Matt Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-walsh/) > [The man who can master his time can master nearly anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/the-man-who-can-master-his-time-can-master-nearly-anything/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Just understand that the good that you want is already here. All you have to do is get in harmony with it. And you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/just-understand-that-the-good-that-you-want-is-already-here-all-you/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [“If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up the men to gather wood, divide the work, and give orders. Instead, teach them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/if-you-want-to-build-a-ship-don-t-drum-up-the-men-to-gather-wood/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [Obviously, if you don't love life, you can't enjoy an oyster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-clark/obviously-if-you-don-t-love-life-you-can-t-enjoy-an-oyster/) [Eleanor Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-clark/) > [It's not the method, it's the mindset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gilbert/it-s-not-the-method-it-s-the-mindset/) [Andy Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gilbert/) > [It's a hard thing to describe. It's just this sense that you got something to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-lehrer/it-s-a-hard-thing-to-describe-it-s-just-this-sense-that-you-got/) [Jonah Lehrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-lehrer/) > [Too much familiarity breeds contempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/too-much-familiarity-breeds-contempt/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [We never really perceive what color is physically!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josef-albers/we-never-really-perceive-what-color-is-physically/) [Josef Albers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josef-albers/) > [Politics is not an issue whether you like or dislike , but every citizen must involve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khem-veasna/politics-is-not-an-issue-whether-you-like-or-dislike-but-every/) [Khem Veasna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khem-veasna/) > [God reveals Himself through surprises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/god-reveals-himself-through-surprises/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) [Browse all 114,561 Inspirational quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The only thing for a pacifist to do is to find a substitute for war.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Freya Stark" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freya-stark/the-only-thing-for-a-pacifist-to-do-is-to-find-a-substitute-for-war/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Inspirational" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freya-stark/the-only-thing-for-a-pacifist-to-do-is-to-find-a-substitute-for-war/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e8/freya-stark-3403_inspirational_the-only-thing-for-a-pacifist-to-do-is-t_580694.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e8/freya-stark-3403_inspirational_the-only-thing-for-a-pacifist-to-do-is-t_580694.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e8/freya-stark-3403_inspirational_the-only-thing-for-a-pacifist-to-do-is-t_580694.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The only thing for a pacifist to do is to find a substitute for war.” — Freya Stark", "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": "Freya Stark", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freya-stark/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The only thing for a pacifist...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freya-stark/the-only-thing-for-a-pacifist-to-do-is-to-find-a-substitute-for-war/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freya-stark/the-only-thing-for-a-pacifist-to-do-is-to-find-a-substitute-for-war/#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 } } ] } ```