---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I would rather have peace in the world…"
description: "\"I would rather have peace in the world than be President.\" — Harry S Truman"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75a/harry-s-truman-2-7445_peace_i-would-rather-have-peace-in-the-world-t_310403.png"
---

#  I would rather have peace in the world than be President.

![“I would rather have peace in the world than be President.” quote by Harry S Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75a/harry-s-truman-2-7445_peace_i-would-rather-have-peace-in-the-world-t_310403.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75a/harry-s-truman-2-7445_peace_i-would-rather-have-peace-in-the-world-t_310403.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75a/harry-s-truman-2-7445_peace_i-would-rather-have-peace-in-the-world-t_310403.png)

> “I would rather have peace in the world than be President.”

[Harry S Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman-2/)

## About This Quote

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

He values global peace over personal power, suggesting leadership should serve humanity, not self‑interest.

**In simple terms:** Peace > power.

Key Takeaway

Prioritize peace over ambition.

Themes

peace leadership humility

Mood

reflective serious

Type

political ethical

When to use this quote

- political office
- international diplomacy
- conflict resolution

Key Concepts

ethical responsibility public service

Questions to Reflect On

- What sacrifices are needed for peace?
- How can leaders balance power and humility?

A Different Perspective

Peace alone may not prevent conflict without action.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Peace In The World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace-in-the-world/) [President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/)

## Related quotes

> [“If we are to reach real peace in the world, we shall have to begin with the children.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/if-we-are-to-reach-real-peace-in-the-world-we-shall-have-to-begin/)

[Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/)

> [“You keep buying your children toy pistols, then you wonder, why there is no peace in the world!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/you-keep-buying-your-children-toy-pistols-then-you-wonder-why-there/)

[Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/)

> [Until there is peace between religions, there can be no peace in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/until-there-is-peace-between-religions-there-can-be-no-peace-in-the/)

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

> [“Peace in the world must be chosen as the supreme principle of humanity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sir-kristian-goldmund-aumann/peace-in-the-world-must-be-chosen-as-the-supreme-principle-of-humanity/)

sir kristian goldmund aumann

> [Peace in ourselves, peace in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/peace-in-ourselves-peace-in-the-world/)

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

> [I just wish there were a little more peace in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-namajunas/i-just-wish-there-were-a-little-more-peace-in-the-world/)

[Rose Namajunas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-namajunas/)

> [The world will be at war as long as the mind is at war with itself. If we can't find peace within ourselves, where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/the-world-will-be-at-war-as-long-as-the-mind-is-at-war-with-itself-if/)

[Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/)

> [Social justice is the surest guarantor of peace in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-ryder/social-justice-is-the-surest-guarantor-of-peace-in-the-world/)

[Guy Ryder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-ryder/)

> [When you find the peace in yourself, then you will find the peace in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-find-the-peace-in-yourself-then-you-will-find-the-peace-in/)

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

> [“If we are to teach real peace in the world, and if we are to carry on a war against war, we have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gallegos-borresen/if-we-are-to-teach-real-peace-in-the-world-and-if-we-are-to-carry-on/)

Michael Gallegos Borresen

> [Tess had said that the river was liable to wash the palace and the city and the whole kingdom off the rocks, and then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cashore/tess-had-said-that-the-river-was-liable-to-wash-the-palace-and-the/)

[Kristin Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/)

> [There is no peace in the world until you find peace within yourself in this moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/there-is-no-peace-in-the-world-until-you-find-peace-within-yourself/)

[Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/)

> [There can be no peace in the world so long as a large proportion of the population lack the necessities of life and believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boyd-orr/there-can-be-no-peace-in-the-world-so-long-as-a-large-proportion-of/)

[John Boyd Orr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boyd-orr/)

> [“When there is peace in the self, there is peace in the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/when-there-is-peace-in-the-self-there-is-peace-in-the-world/)

[Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/)

> [There will never be any peace in the world as long as we eat animals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-bashevis-singer/there-will-never-be-any-peace-in-the-world-as-long-as-we-eat-animals/)

[Isaac Bashevis Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-bashevis-singer/)

## More by Harry S Truman

> [A statesman is a politician who has been dead ten or fifteen years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman-2/a-statesman-is-a-politician-who-has-been-dead-ten-or-fifteen-years/)

[Harry S Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman-2/)

> [We're going to be buried out here. I like the idea because I may just want to get up some day and stroll into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman-2/we-re-going-to-be-buried-out-here-i-like-the-idea-because-i-may-just/)

[Harry S Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman-2/)

> [Most of the problems a President has to face have their roots in the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman-2/most-of-the-problems-a-president-has-to-face-have-their-roots-in-the/)

[Harry S Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman-2/)

> [I've said many a time that I think the Un-American Activities Committee in the House of Representatives was the most un-American thing in America!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman-2/i-ve-said-many-a-time-that-i-think-the-un-american-activities/)

[Harry S Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman-2/)

> [We shall never be able to remove suspicion and fear as potential causes of war until communication is permitted to flow, free and open,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman-2/we-shall-never-be-able-to-remove-suspicion-and-fear-as-potential/)

[Harry S Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman-2/)

> [Intense feeling too often obscures the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman-2/intense-feeling-too-often-obscures-the-truth/)

[Harry S Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman-2/)

> [It is understanding that gives us an ability to have peace. When we understand the other fellow's viewpoint, and he understands ours, then we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman-2/it-is-understanding-that-gives-us-an-ability-to-have-peace-when-we/)

[Harry S Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman-2/)

> [Whenever you put a man on the Supreme Court he ceases to be your friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman-2/whenever-you-put-a-man-on-the-supreme-court-he-ceases-to-be-your/)

[Harry S Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman-2/)

> [It sure is hell to be president.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman-2/it-sure-is-hell-to-be-president/)

[Harry S Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman-2/)

> [The only things worth learning are the things you learn after you know it all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman-2/the-only-things-worth-learning-are-the-things-you-learn-after-you/)

[Harry S Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman-2/)

> [You can never get all the facts from just one newspaper, and unless you have all the facts, you cannot make proper judgements about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman-2/you-can-never-get-all-the-facts-from-just-one-newspaper-and-unless/)

[Harry S Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman-2/)

> [In reading the lives of great men, I found that the first victory they won was over themselves... self-discipline with all of them came…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman-2/in-reading-the-lives-of-great-men-i-found-that-the-first-victory-they/)

[Harry S Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman-2/)

> [A politician is a man who understands government. A statesman is a politician who's been dead for 15 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman-2/a-politician-is-a-man-who-understands-government-a-statesman-is-a/)

[Harry S Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman-2/)

> [Experience has shown how deeply the seeds of war are planted by economic rivalry and social injustice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman-2/experience-has-shown-how-deeply-the-seeds-of-war-are-planted-by/)

[Harry S Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman-2/)

> [Those who want the Government to regulate matters of the mind and spirit are like men who are so afraid of being murdered that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman-2/those-who-want-the-government-to-regulate-matters-of-the-mind-and/)

[Harry S Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman-2/)

[Explore all 91 Harry S Truman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman-2/)

## More Peace quotes

> [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 I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/)

[Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/)

> [“Peace requires a discipline more iron than war. - Easter, 1939 ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-j-turner/peace-requires-a-discipline-more-iron-than-war-easter-1939/)

W.J. Turner

> [You practice mindfulness, on the one hand, to be calm and peaceful. On the other hand, as you practice mindfulness and live a life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-practice-mindfulness-on-the-one-hand-to-be-calm-and-peaceful-on/)

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

> [“Achieving mental harmony is one of the greatest goals and experiences in life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kambiz-mostofizadeh/achieving-mental-harmony-is-one-of-the-greatest-goals-and-experiences/)

[Kambiz Mostofizadeh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kambiz-mostofizadeh/)

> [When we are capable of living in the moment free from the tyranny of "shoulds," free from the nagging sensation that this moment isn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-z-borysenko/when-we-are-capable-of-living-in-the-moment-free-from-the-tyranny-of/)

[Joan Z. Borysenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-z-borysenko/)

> [“Tranquillity is courage in repose. It is a statical manifestation of valor, as daring deeds are a dynamical. A truly brave man is ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/inazo-nitobe/tranquillity-is-courage-in-repose-it-is-a-statical-manifestation-of/)

[Inazo Nitobe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/inazo-nitobe/)

> [“There is no fortune greater than peace; there is no force greater than peace; there is no excellent tapas greater than peace; there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muruganar/there-is-no-fortune-greater-than-peace-there-is-no-force-greater-than/)

[Muruganar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muruganar/)

> [Give me love, give me peace on earth, give me light, give me life, keep me free from birth, give me hope, help me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/give-me-love-give-me-peace-on-earth-give-me-light-give-me-life-keep/)

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

> [ Vote for Donald Trump. You're going to see something and you'll be so happy, you'll be so thrilled. This \[presidential\] election is about every… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/vote-for-donald-trump-you-re-going-to-see-something-and-you-ll-be-so/)

[Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/)

> [One of the things that touches me most when I play for an audience is that although we may be unable to communicate in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hough/one-of-the-things-that-touches-me-most-when-i-play-for-an-audience-is/)

[Stephen Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hough/)

> [The great force for forging a society into a solid mass has always been war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-graham-sumner/the-great-force-for-forging-a-society-into-a-solid-mass-has-always/)

[William Graham Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-graham-sumner/)

> [The peaceful transition of power is one of the hallmarks of our democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-peaceful-transition-of-power-is-one-of-the-hallmarks-of-our/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [Peace is the first thing the angels sang. Peace is the mark of the children of God. Peace is the nurse of love. Peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-leo-i/peace-is-the-first-thing-the-angels-sang-peace-is-the-mark-of-the/)

[Pope Leo I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-leo-i/)

> [War is like a fire. One man may start it, but it will spread all over. It is not about one thing in particular.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/war-is-like-a-fire-one-man-may-start-it-but-it-will-spread-all-over/)

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

[Browse all 27,655 Peace quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I would rather have peace in the world than be President.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Harry S Truman"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman-2/i-would-rather-have-peace-in-the-world-than-be-president/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Peace"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman-2/i-would-rather-have-peace-in-the-world-than-be-president/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75a/harry-s-truman-2-7445_peace_i-would-rather-have-peace-in-the-world-t_310403.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75a/harry-s-truman-2-7445_peace_i-would-rather-have-peace-in-the-world-t_310403.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75a/harry-s-truman-2-7445_peace_i-would-rather-have-peace-in-the-world-t_310403.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I would rather have peace in the world than be President.” — Harry S Truman",
                "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": "Harry S Truman",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman-2/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I would rather have peace in...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman-2/i-would-rather-have-peace-in-the-world-than-be-president/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman-2/i-would-rather-have-peace-in-the-world-than-be-president/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```