--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is like the distinction between war…" description: "\"“It is like the distinction between war and peace: just as war takes place for the sake of peace, thus every kind of activity, even the processes of me..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/478/hannah-arendt-610_communication_it-is-like-the-distinction-between-war-a_119424.jpg" --- # It is like the distinction between war and peace: just as… ![“It is like the distinction between war and peace: just as war takes place for the sake of peace, thus every kind of activity, even the processes of mere thought, must culminate in the absolute quiet of contemplation.11 Every movement, the movements of body and soul as well as of speech and…” quote by Hannah Arendt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/478/hannah-arendt-610_communication_it-is-like-the-distinction-between-war-a_119424.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/478/hannah-arendt-610_communication_it-is-like-the-distinction-between-war-a_119424.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/478/hannah-arendt-610_communication_it-is-like-the-distinction-between-war-a_119424.jpg) > ““It is like the distinction between war and peace: just as war takes place for the sake of peace, thus every kind of activity, even the processes of mere thought, must culminate in the absolute quiet of contemplation.11 Every movement, the movements of body and soul as well as of speech and reasoning, must cease before truth. Truth, be it the ancient truth of Being or the Christian truth of the living God, can reveal itself only in complete human stillness.12 Traditionally”” [Hannah Arendt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-arendt/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Posits that true contemplation requires a cessation of all activity, likening the pursuit of peace to the quiet necessary for truth to emerge. **In simple terms:** Silence is essential for truth. Key Takeaway Stillness reveals deeper reality. Themes philosophy spirituality mindfulness Mood reflective serene Type philosophical observation When to use this quote - meditative practice - philosophical study Key Concepts the nature of truth the role of contemplation Practical Applications - incorporating silence into daily routines Questions to Reflect On - Can truth be accessed without complete stillness? - What practical steps foster contemplative silence? A Different Perspective Absolute stillness may be unattainable in modern life. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Christian truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian-truth/) [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Contemplation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contemplation/) [Meditation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meditation/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Philosophy of Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-of-mind/) [Spirituality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirituality/) [Stillness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stillness/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [There is something in the nature of tea that leads us into a world of quiet contemplation of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lin-yutang/there-is-something-in-the-nature-of-tea-that-leads-us-into-a-world-of/) [Lin Yutang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lin-yutang/) > [I'm not very religious, but having reached middle age I rather enjoy the quiet and the contemplation of spending an hour in an old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-armstrong/i-m-not-very-religious-but-having-reached-middle-age-i-rather-enjoy/) [Alexander Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-armstrong/) > [It is not necessary to maintain a conversation when we are in the presence of God. We can come into His presence and rest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ole-hallesby/it-is-not-necessary-to-maintain-a-conversation-when-we-are-in-the/) [Ole Hallesby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ole-hallesby/) > [“Art transforms those that witness the creation, into philosophers, enquirers led down a path of mind; of quiet contemplation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-s-lehman/art-transforms-those-that-witness-the-creation-into-philosophers/) Erik S. Lehman > [“Silence is not always complacency. It is contemplation and forethought taking place in the minds of those who would be careful with their words…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/silence-is-not-always-complacency-it-is-contemplation-and-forethought/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [Be Silent yourself, that will induce Silence in others. Do not fall into the habit of shouting, talking long and loud. 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Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-g-holland/) > [We do not consider ourselves a Christian nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-do-not-consider-ourselves-a-christian-nation/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [“nothing has contributed so much to the obscuring of Christian truth in the eyes of the heathen, and has hindered so much the diffusion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/nothing-has-contributed-so-much-to-the-obscuring-of-christian-truth/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [You cannot coherently affirm the Christian-truth claim and the dominant model of evolutionary theory at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-mohler/you-cannot-coherently-affirm-the-christian-truth-claim-and-the/) [Albert Mohler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-mohler/) > [“What if many listeners hold a profoundly different understanding of the concepts of God, truth, right and wrong, freedom, virtue, and sin? What if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/what-if-many-listeners-hold-a-profoundly-different-understanding-of/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) ## More by Hannah Arendt > [“It means, first, that everything that appears in public can be seen and heard by everybody and has the widest possible publicity. 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