--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: International exchanges are not a great…" description: "\"International exchanges are not a great tide to sweep away all differences, but they will slowly wear away at the obstacles to peace as surely as water..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c38/george-h-w-bush-1459_differences_international-exchanges-are-not-a-great_52199.png" --- # International exchanges are not a great tide to sweep away… ![“International exchanges are not a great tide to sweep away all differences, but they will slowly wear away at the obstacles to peace as surely as water wears away a hard stone.” quote by George H. W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c38/george-h-w-bush-1459_differences_international-exchanges-are-not-a-great_52199.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c38/george-h-w-bush-1459_differences_international-exchanges-are-not-a-great_52199.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c38/george-h-w-bush-1459_differences_international-exchanges-are-not-a-great_52199.png) > “International exchanges are not a great tide to sweep away all differences, but they will slowly wear away at the obstacles to peace as surely as water wears away a hard stone.” [George H. W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-h-w-bush/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Gradual engagement erodes deep-seated hostilities, much like water slowly shapes stone, fostering peace over time. **In simple terms:** Patience in diplomacy chips away conflict. Key Takeaway Small, consistent exchanges build peace. Themes diplomacy patience conflict resolution gradual change mutual understanding Mood hopeful steady optimistic Type proverbial inspirational When to use this quote - bilateral trade talks - student exchange programs - joint scientific research - multilateral peace conferences - cultural festivals Key Concepts soft power cultural exchange trust building incremental progress Practical Applications - policy design for long‑term peace - strategic planning of exchange initiatives Questions to Reflect On - How can small diplomatic actions accumulate into major peace gains? - What obstacles resist gradual change? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Differences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/differences/) [Differences Slowly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/differences-slowly-739704/) [Exchanges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exchanges/) [Hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard/) [International](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/international/) [International Exchanges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/international-exchanges-739705/) [Obstacles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obstacles/) [Obstacles Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obstacles-peace-739703/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Presidential](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/presidential/) [Stones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stones/) [Study](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/study/) [Study abroad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/study-abroad/) [Tides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tides/) [Water](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/water/) [Wears Away](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wears-away-739706/) ## Related quotes > [ I just think we can't do enough of this \[student exchanges\]... And when you get young children traveling internationally, I think they come back… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arne-duncan/i-just-think-we-can-t-do-enough-of-this-student-exchanges-and-when/) [Arne Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arne-duncan/) > [Wherever we turn we find that the real obstacles to peace are human will and feeling, human convictions, prejudices, opinions. If we want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/wherever-we-turn-we-find-that-the-real-obstacles-to-peace-are-human/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [The obstacles to peace are in the minds and hearts of men. In the study of matter we can be honest, impartial, true. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-angell/the-obstacles-to-peace-are-in-the-minds-and-hearts-of-men-in-the/) [Norman Angell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-angell/) > [“There are lots of obstacles to peace... Before, people used to live in simple lifestyles. Simple food, simple clothes. Now it's more jealousy, more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sushma-joshi/there-are-lots-of-obstacles-to-peace-before-people-used-to-live-in/) [Sushma Joshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sushma-joshi/) > [Continual dropping wears away a stone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/continual-dropping-wears-away-a-stone/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The very foundation of private property and free contracting wears away in a nation in which its most vital, most concrete, most meaningful types…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-a-schumpeter/the-very-foundation-of-private-property-and-free-contracting-wears/) [Joseph A. Schumpeter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-a-schumpeter/) > [Constant dropping wears away stones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/constant-dropping-wears-away-stones/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [The fall of dropping water wears away the Stone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretius/the-fall-of-dropping-water-wears-away-the-stone/) [Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/) > [“The river wears away the rock to get to the ocean … so it is with the soul in search of its creator.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-g-space/the-river-wears-away-the-rock-to-get-to-the-ocean-so-it-is-with-the/) [L.G. Space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-g-space/) > [In the industrial revolution Britain led the world in advances that enabled mass production: trade exchanges, transportation, factory technology and new skills needed for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-powell/in-the-industrial-revolution-britain-led-the-world-in-advances-that/) [Lucy Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-powell/) > [“Communication is the A-Z of business.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/utibe-samuel-mbom/communication-is-the-a-z-of-business/) [Utibe Samuel Mbom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/utibe-samuel-mbom/) > [Predation is part of the everyday life of capitalism, in sectors as mainstream as pharmaceuticals, software and oil - where people's money, their data,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-mulgan/predation-is-part-of-the-everyday-life-of-capitalism-in-sectors-as/) [Geoff Mulgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-mulgan/) > [We routinely participate in elaborate nonverbal exchanges even when we are not consciously aware of doing so.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-mlodinow/we-routinely-participate-in-elaborate-nonverbal-exchanges-even-when/) [Leonard Mlodinow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-mlodinow/) > [Well, you have a defence attache here, that's a step forward. Your Defence Minister has been here, our defence people have exchanges with you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sellapan-ramanathan/well-you-have-a-defence-attache-here-that-s-a-step-forward-your/) [Sellapan Ramanathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sellapan-ramanathan/) > [I think that cinema has always progressed through exchanges.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-audiard/i-think-that-cinema-has-always-progressed-through-exchanges/) [Jacques Audiard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-audiard/) ## More by George H. W. Bush > [America's freedom is the example to which the world expires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-h-w-bush/america-s-freedom-is-the-example-to-which-the-world-expires/) [George H. W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-h-w-bush/) > [I am not one who - who flamboyantly believes in throwing a lot of words around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-h-w-bush/i-am-not-one-who-who-flamboyantly-believes-in-throwing-a-lot-of-words/) [George H. W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-h-w-bush/) > [Be bold in your caring, and be bold in your dreaming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-h-w-bush/be-bold-in-your-caring-and-be-bold-in-your-dreaming/) [George H. W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-h-w-bush/) > [We can find meaning and reward by serving some higher purpose than ourselves, a shining purpose, the illumination of a Thousand Points of Light...We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-h-w-bush/we-can-find-meaning-and-reward-by-serving-some-higher-purpose-than/) [George H. W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-h-w-bush/) > [Well, I think everybody is frustrated by the finances of the U.N. and the inability to solve problems of war and peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-h-w-bush/well-i-think-everybody-is-frustrated-by-the-finances-of-the-u-n-and/) [George H. W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-h-w-bush/) > [No, I'm not anguished and tormented.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-h-w-bush/no-i-m-not-anguished-and-tormented/) [George H. W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-h-w-bush/) > [You know I vowed when I became President not to talk about the loneliest toughest job in the world and I didn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-h-w-bush/you-know-i-vowed-when-i-became-president-not-to-talk-about-the/) [George H. W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-h-w-bush/) > [I think it's very hard to fight the war on terrorism if we're in retreat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-h-w-bush/i-think-it-s-very-hard-to-fight-the-war-on-terrorism-if-we-re-in/) [George H. W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-h-w-bush/) > [I firmly believed we should not march into Baghdad ...To occupy Iraq would instantly shatter our coalition, turning the whole Arab world against us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-h-w-bush/i-firmly-believed-we-should-not-march-into-baghdad-to-occupy-iraq/) [George H. W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-h-w-bush/) > [Ozone Man, Ozone. He's crazy, way out, far out, man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-h-w-bush/ozone-man-ozone-he-s-crazy-way-out-far-out-man/) [George H. W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-h-w-bush/) > [What's wrong with being a boring kind of guy?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-h-w-bush/what-s-wrong-with-being-a-boring-kind-of-guy/) [George H. W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-h-w-bush/) > [The liberation of Kuwait has begun. In conjunction with the forces of our coalition partners, the United States has moved under the code name…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-h-w-bush/the-liberation-of-kuwait-has-begun-in-conjunction-with-the-forces-of/) [George H. W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-h-w-bush/) > [The United States will continue its efforts to improve our understanding of climate change - to seek hard data, accurate models, and new ways…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-h-w-bush/the-united-states-will-continue-its-efforts-to-improve-our/) [George H. W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-h-w-bush/) > [If you believe that there's a being superior to yourself and that will guide you, strengthen you that helps a lot but, you know,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-h-w-bush/if-you-believe-that-there-s-a-being-superior-to-yourself-and-that/) [George H. W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-h-w-bush/) > [There is a God and He is good, and his love, while free, has a self imposed cost: We must be good to one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-h-w-bush/there-is-a-god-and-he-is-good-and-his-love-while-free-has-a-self/) [George H. W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-h-w-bush/) [Explore all 239 George H. W. Bush quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-h-w-bush/) ## More Differences quotes > [It appears to me that one great cause of our difference in opinion on subjects which we often discuss is that you have always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ricardo/it-appears-to-me-that-one-great-cause-of-our-difference-in-opinion-on/) [David Ricardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ricardo/) > [What sets worlds in motion is the interplay of differences, their attractions and repulsions. Life is plurality, death is uniformity. By suppressing differences and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/what-sets-worlds-in-motion-is-the-interplay-of-differences-their/) [Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/) > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [If the media is sending girls the message that their value lies in their bodies, this can only leave them feeling disempowered and distract…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-siebel-newsom/if-the-media-is-sending-girls-the-message-that-their-value-lies-in/) [Jennifer Siebel Newsom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-siebel-newsom/) > [But I already saw no great difference between the psyche and spirituality. To amass knowledge without becoming wise is not my idea of progress…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-scott-peck/but-i-already-saw-no-great-difference-between-the-psyche-and/) [M. Scott Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-scott-peck/) > [There is only one party in the United States, the Property Party...and it has two right wings: Republican and Democrat. Republicans are a bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/there-is-only-one-party-in-the-united-states-the-property-party-and/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [Shortly after I turned 50, both Ted Turner and the AARP came into my life. The only difference? With AARP, there were benefits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-fonda/shortly-after-i-turned-50-both-ted-turner-and-the-aarp-came-into-my/) [Jane Fonda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-fonda/) > [It must be assumed and established as a principle, that the right of private property must be regarded as sacred. Wherefore, the law ought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-leo-xiii/it-must-be-assumed-and-established-as-a-principle-that-the-right-of/) [Pope Leo XIII](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-leo-xiii/) > [The only regret I have in my career, is my managers wanted a big payday, and I wanted four or five more fights before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-cooney/the-only-regret-i-have-in-my-career-is-my-managers-wanted-a-big/) [Gerry Cooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-cooney/) > [There are those who open their hearts to others...who never think twice about giving of themselves. They are the wonderful warmhearted people who make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilda-radner/there-are-those-who-open-their-hearts-to-others-who-never-think-twice/) [Gilda Radner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilda-radner/) > [People forget that there is a big difference between coercion and persuasion. The idea that evangelism is coercive is nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/people-forget-that-there-is-a-big-difference-between-coercion-and/) [Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dever/) > [A human being can only absorb a small amount of the mystical kundalini, you can be exposed again and again to it, but it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/a-human-being-can-only-absorb-a-small-amount-of-the-mystical/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [One of the most basic principles for making and keeping peace within and between nations. . . is that in political, military, moral, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/one-of-the-most-basic-principles-for-making-and-keeping-peace-within/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [When the President starts talking about something, it makes a difference.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-schumer/when-the-president-starts-talking-about-something-it-makes-a/) [Charles Schumer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-schumer/) > [In a world shaped and colored more and more by politicians, the nations meet politically, and hardly any other way to settle their differences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-b-priestley/in-a-world-shaped-and-colored-more-and-more-by-politicians-the/) [J. B. Priestley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-b-priestley/) [Browse all 8,110 Differences quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/differences/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "International exchanges are not a great tide to sweep away all differences, but they will slowly wear away at the obstacles to peace as surely as water wears away a hard stone.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "George H. W. Bush" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-h-w-bush/international-exchanges-are-not-a-great-tide-to-sweep-away-all/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Differences" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-h-w-bush/international-exchanges-are-not-a-great-tide-to-sweep-away-all/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c38/george-h-w-bush-1459_differences_international-exchanges-are-not-a-great_52199.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c38/george-h-w-bush-1459_differences_international-exchanges-are-not-a-great_52199.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c38/george-h-w-bush-1459_differences_international-exchanges-are-not-a-great_52199.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“International exchanges are not a great tide to sweep away all differences, but they will slowly wear away…” — George H. W. Bush", "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": "George H. W. Bush", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-h-w-bush/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "International exchanges are not a great...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-h-w-bush/international-exchanges-are-not-a-great-tide-to-sweep-away-all/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-h-w-bush/international-exchanges-are-not-a-great-tide-to-sweep-away-all/#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 } } ] } ```