--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When earth as if on evil dreams Looks…" description: "\"When earth as if on evil dreams Looks back upon her wars, And the white light of Christ outstreams From the red disc of Mars, His fame, who led the sto..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/285/john-greenleaf-whittier-2061_battle_when-earth-as-if-on-evil-dreams-looks-ba_1087632.jpg" --- # When earth as if on evil dreams Looks back upon her wars… ![“When earth as if on evil dreams Looks back upon her wars, And the white light of Christ outstreams From the red disc of Mars, His fame, who led the stormy van Of battle, well may cease; But never that which crowns the man Whose victory was peace.” quote by John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/285/john-greenleaf-whittier-2061_battle_when-earth-as-if-on-evil-dreams-looks-ba_1087632.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/285/john-greenleaf-whittier-2061_battle_when-earth-as-if-on-evil-dreams-looks-ba_1087632.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/285/john-greenleaf-whittier-2061_battle_when-earth-as-if-on-evil-dreams-looks-ba_1087632.jpg) > “When earth as if on evil dreams Looks back upon her wars, And the white light of Christ outstreams From the red disc of Mars, His fame, who led the stormy van Of battle, well may cease; But never that which crowns the man Whose victory was peace.” [John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. War and peace are contrasted; divine light offers hope beyond conflict, yet true triumph is peace, not victory over enemies. **In simple terms:** Peace is the ultimate victory, not war. Key Takeaway Seek lasting peace over fleeting triumphs. Themes war peace divine hope humanity Mood reflective hopeful Type poetic inspirational When to use this quote - political negotiations - personal forgiveness - community rebuilding - interfaith dialogue Key Concepts spirituality conflict resolution philosophy Questions to Reflect On - What does true peace look like in your life? - How can divine hope be manifested today? A Different Perspective Peace can be fragile and contested, requiring ongoing effort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Battle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/battle/) [Cease](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cease/) [Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christ/) [Crowns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crowns/) [Disc Mars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disc-mars-2795014/) [Discs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discs/) [Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earth/) [Earth Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earth-evil-689236/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Evil Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil-dreams-1766246/) [Fame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fame/) [He man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/he-man/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light/) [Light of christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light-of-christ/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [Mars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mars/) [Mars Fame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mars-fame-2795013/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Red](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/red/) [Stormy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stormy/) [Vans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vans/) [Victory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/victory/) [Victory Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/victory-peace-473565/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) [White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/white/) [White light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/white-light/) ## Related quotes > [“In the New Year, may not all your dreams come true, but may only all your good and right dreams come true, because men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/in-the-new-year-may-not-all-your-dreams-come-true-but-may-only-all/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [Are God and Nature then at strife, That Nature lends such evil dreams? 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To will what God wills, and strike a league with destiny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-is-the-highest-secret-to-victory-and-peace-to-will-what-god/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I have now reigned above fifty years in victory and peace, beloved by my subjects, dreaded by my enemies, and respected by my allies.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abd-ar-rahman-iii/i-have-now-reigned-above-fifty-years-in-victory-and-peace-beloved-by/) [Abd-ar-Rahman III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abd-ar-rahman-iii/) > [“Central to this conquest of the world was the belief that military victory is peace. There was even one line from the empire propaganda…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-bell/central-to-this-conquest-of-the-world-was-the-belief-that-military/) [Rob Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-bell/) > [I'm not so much against the war as I am for a Vietnamese victory. I'm not so much for peace as for a U.S.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-ayers/i-m-not-so-much-against-the-war-as-i-am-for-a-vietnamese-victory-i-m/) [Bill Ayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-ayers/) > [We need to give Christ a chance to make use of us, to be His word and His work, to share His food and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/we-need-to-give-christ-a-chance-to-make-use-of-us-to-be-his-word-and/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [“You know, of course, that as prophesied by Moroni, there are those whose research relating to Joseph Smith is not for the purpose of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-todd-christofferson/you-know-of-course-that-as-prophesied-by-moroni-there-are-those-whose/) [D. 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Russell Ballard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-russell-ballard/) ## More by John Greenleaf Whittier > [Here Greek and Roman find themselves alive along these crowded shelves; and Shakespeare treads again his stage, and Chaucer paints anew his age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/here-greek-and-roman-find-themselves-alive-along-these-crowded/) [John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/) > [the joy that you give to others is the joy that comes back to you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/the-joy-that-you-give-to-others-is-the-joy-that-comes-back-to-you/) [John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/) > [No lance have I, in joust or fight, To splinter in my lady's sight; But, at her feet, how blest were I For any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/no-lance-have-i-in-joust-or-fight-to-splinter-in-my-lady-s-sight-but/) [John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/) > [A little smile, a word of cheer, A bit of love from someone near, A little gift from one held dear, Best wishes for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/a-little-smile-a-word-of-cheer-a-bit-of-love-from-someone-near-a/) [John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/) > [On leaf of palm, on sedge-wrought roll; on plastic clay and leather scroll, man wrote his thoughts; the ages passed, and lo! the Press…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/on-leaf-of-palm-on-sedge-wrought-roll-on-plastic-clay-and-leather/) [John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/) > [What does the good ship bear so well? The cocoa-nut with its stony shell, And the milky sap of its inner cell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/what-does-the-good-ship-bear-so-well-the-cocoa-nut-with-its-stony/) [John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/) > [Love hath never known a law beyond its own sweet will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/love-hath-never-known-a-law-beyond-its-own-sweet-will/) [John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/) > [Leaning on Him, make with reverent meekness His own thy will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/leaning-on-him-make-with-reverent-meekness-his-own-thy-will/) [John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/) > [Sweeter than any sungMy songs that found no tongue;Nobler than any factMy wish that failed of act.Others shall sing the song,Others shall right the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/sweeter-than-any-sungmy-songs-that-found-no-tongue-nobler-than-any/) [John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/) > [The Present, the Present is all thou hast For thy sure possessing; Like the patriarch's angel hold it fast Till it gives its blessing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/the-present-the-present-is-all-thou-hast-for-thy-sure-possessing-like/) [John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/) > [They who wander widest lift No more of beauties' jealous veils, Than they who from their doorways see The miracle of flowers and trees.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/they-who-wander-widest-lift-no-more-of-beauties-jealous-veils-than/) [John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/) > [Once more the liberal year laughs out O'er richer stores than gems or gold: Once more with harvest song and shout Is nature's boldest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/once-more-the-liberal-year-laughs-out-o-er-richer-stores-than-gems-or/) [John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/) > [Quite the ugliest face I ever saw was that of a woman whom the world called beautiful. Through its silver veil the evil and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/quite-the-ugliest-face-i-ever-saw-was-that-of-a-woman-whom-the-world/) [John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/) > [With smoking axle hot with speed, with steeds of fire and steam, Wide-waked To-day leaves Yesterday behind him like a dream. Still, from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/with-smoking-axle-hot-with-speed-with-steeds-of-fire-and-steam-wide/) [John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/) > [If woman lost us Eden, such As she alone restore it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/if-woman-lost-us-eden-such-as-she-alone-restore-it/) [John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/) [Explore all 188 John Greenleaf Whittier quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/) ## More Battle quotes > [In the battle for police reform, accountability and justice, Americans don't have to re-invent the wheel. We just have to revoke the thing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-johnson/in-the-battle-for-police-reform-accountability-and-justice-americans/) [Jason Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-johnson/) > [This is, for an accomplished Latino, an accomplished African American, an accomplished anyone who disproves stereotypes, it's a constant battle in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sotomayor/this-is-for-an-accomplished-latino-an-accomplished-african-american/) [Sonia Sotomayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sotomayor/) > [“Which people take the time to care for their souls, these days? I reckon not many. 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