--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We mustn't start off with the idea that…" description: "\"We mustn't start off with the idea that there's only militarism, invasions, and occupations. We really have to look: What are the alternatives here?\" —..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/996/mairead-corrigan-12568_alternatives_we-mustn-t-start-off-with-the-idea-that_2874047.jpg" --- # We mustn't start off with the idea that there's only… ![“We mustn't start off with the idea that there's only militarism, invasions, and occupations. We really have to look: What are the alternatives here?” quote by Mairead Corrigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/996/mairead-corrigan-12568_alternatives_we-mustn-t-start-off-with-the-idea-that_2874047.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/996/mairead-corrigan-12568_alternatives_we-mustn-t-start-off-with-the-idea-that_2874047.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/996/mairead-corrigan-12568_alternatives_we-mustn-t-start-off-with-the-idea-that_2874047.jpg) > “We mustn't start off with the idea that there's only militarism, invasions, and occupations. We really have to look: What are the alternatives here?” [Mairead Corrigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mairead-corrigan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Beyond militarism, we must explore alternative solutions to conflict, such as diplomacy and cooperation. **In simple terms:** Seek alternatives to war. Key Takeaway Prioritize peacebuilding strategies. Themes peace alternatives conflict resolution politics Mood reflective hopeful Type political philosophical When to use this quote - policy making - community dialogue - education Key Concepts Diplomacy non‑violent resistance Questions to Reflect On - What non‑militaristic options exist? - How can societies adopt them? A Different Perspective Peace alone may not solve all issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Invasion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/invasion/) [Militarism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/militarism/) [Occupation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/occupation/) ## Related quotes > [I don't get my authority from this preexisting paradigm which is quite narrow and only serves a few people. I look elsewhere for alternatives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-brand/i-don-t-get-my-authority-from-this-preexisting-paradigm-which-is/) [Russell Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-brand/) > [We must look at alternatives objectively, and not try to fit the future into our present social mould.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacque-fresco/we-must-look-at-alternatives-objectively-and-not-try-to-fit-the/) [Jacque Fresco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacque-fresco/) > [That will be my focus: building a culture that moves away from militarism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mairead-corrigan/that-will-be-my-focus-building-a-culture-that-moves-away-from/) [Mairead Corrigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mairead-corrigan/) > [The experience of a lot of us women is that too much money is being spent on militarism and war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mairead-corrigan/the-experience-of-a-lot-of-us-women-is-that-too-much-money-is-being/) [Mairead Corrigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mairead-corrigan/) > [I support this proposal and agree with this great and important initiative to abolish militarism and war. I will continue to speak out for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mairead-corrigan/i-support-this-proposal-and-agree-with-this-great-and-important/) [Mairead Corrigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mairead-corrigan/) > [The experience of a lot of us women is that too much money is being spent on militarism and war. We need human security:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mairead-corrigan/the-experience-of-a-lot-of-us-women-is-that-too-much-money-is-being-2/) [Mairead Corrigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mairead-corrigan/) > [The invasion and occupation of Iraq is illegal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/the-invasion-and-occupation-of-iraq-is-illegal/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [“At the moment, don't buy my books, help the people of Ukraine instead.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/at-the-moment-don-t-buy-my-books-help-the-people-of-ukraine-instead/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [Nations sometimes flourish by denying the crimes that brought them into being. Only when the original invasion, occupation, extermination or usurpation has been safely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-eagleton/nations-sometimes-flourish-by-denying-the-crimes-that-brought-them/) [Terry Eagleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-eagleton/) > [Setting aside human rights and international law to have an agenda of war and killing and occupation to me is totally unacceptable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mairead-corrigan/setting-aside-human-rights-and-international-law-to-have-an-agenda-of/) [Mairead Corrigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mairead-corrigan/) > [“We have no managed to acquire bases all over the world—islands distant as the Australian Archipelago which President Roosevelt seized in 1938 without so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-t-flynn/we-have-no-managed-to-acquire-bases-all-over-the-world-islands/) [John T. Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-t-flynn/) > [Where else could one find such a perfect combination of American values -- racism, militarism, capitalism -- all packaged in one 'ideal' symbol, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-morgan/where-else-could-one-find-such-a-perfect-combination-of-american/) [Robin Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-morgan/) > [Nationalism, on my opinion, is nothing more than an idealistic rationalization for militarism and aggression.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/nationalism-on-my-opinion-is-nothing-more-than-an-idealistic/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [“Nationalism and jingoism—essential corollaries of militarism—are also systemic imperatives because they divide the global working classes, and bind them to the elites oppressing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-derber/nationalism-and-jingoism-essential-corollaries-of-militarism-are-also/) [Charles Derber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-derber/) > [...The greatest bulwark of capitalism is militarism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/the-greatest-bulwark-of-capitalism-is-militarism/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) ## More by Mairead Corrigan > [The experience of a lot of us women is that too much money is being spent on militarism and war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mairead-corrigan/the-experience-of-a-lot-of-us-women-is-that-too-much-money-is-being/) [Mairead Corrigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mairead-corrigan/) > [Perhaps the greatest contribution that those of us who come from a Christian tradition can make is to throw out the old just-war theory,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mairead-corrigan/perhaps-the-greatest-contribution-that-those-of-us-who-come-from-a/) [Mairead Corrigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mairead-corrigan/) > [We as a human family are on this train that is taking us into more and more war and more and more abuse of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mairead-corrigan/we-as-a-human-family-are-on-this-train-that-is-taking-us-into-more/) [Mairead Corrigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mairead-corrigan/) > [We need radical thinking, creative ideas, and imagination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mairead-corrigan/we-need-radical-thinking-creative-ideas-and-imagination/) [Mairead Corrigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mairead-corrigan/) > [Setting aside human rights and international law to have an agenda of war and killing and occupation to me is totally unacceptable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mairead-corrigan/setting-aside-human-rights-and-international-law-to-have-an-agenda-of/) [Mairead Corrigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mairead-corrigan/) > [In Northern Ireland, people said there would never be a solution. But once people begin to have the political will and force their governments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mairead-corrigan/in-northern-ireland-people-said-there-would-never-be-a-solution-but/) [Mairead Corrigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mairead-corrigan/) > [To enable consensus politics to develop we need to empower people where they live. This means devolving financial resources and political power down to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mairead-corrigan/to-enable-consensus-politics-to-develop-we-need-to-empower-people/) [Mairead Corrigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mairead-corrigan/) > [Those of us who believe in human rights and the truth - particularly the journalists and the media - should stand in defense of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mairead-corrigan/those-of-us-who-believe-in-human-rights-and-the-truth-particularly/) [Mairead Corrigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mairead-corrigan/) > [We need now to build a culture of geniune nonviolence and real democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mairead-corrigan/we-need-now-to-build-a-culture-of-geniune-nonviolence-and-real/) [Mairead Corrigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mairead-corrigan/) > [The experience of a lot of us women is that too much money is being spent on militarism and war. We need human security:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mairead-corrigan/the-experience-of-a-lot-of-us-women-is-that-too-much-money-is-being-2/) [Mairead Corrigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mairead-corrigan/) > [To me the Nobel Peace laureates should not be hosted by a State Department that is continuing with war, removing basic civil liberties and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mairead-corrigan/to-me-the-nobel-peace-laureates-should-not-be-hosted-by-a-state/) [Mairead Corrigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mairead-corrigan/) > [We need human security: food, education, health care for our children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mairead-corrigan/we-need-human-security-food-education-health-care-for-our-children/) [Mairead Corrigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mairead-corrigan/) > [I have always been inspired by the American peace movement because it is operating in a very hard and militarist environment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mairead-corrigan/i-have-always-been-inspired-by-the-american-peace-movement-because-it/) [Mairead Corrigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mairead-corrigan/) > [I support this proposal and agree with this great and important initiative to abolish militarism and war. I will continue to speak out for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mairead-corrigan/i-support-this-proposal-and-agree-with-this-great-and-important/) [Mairead Corrigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mairead-corrigan/) > [I witnessed a lot of violence, and I found myself asking the question: Do you ever use violence to try to bring about political…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mairead-corrigan/i-witnessed-a-lot-of-violence-and-i-found-myself-asking-the-question/) [Mairead Corrigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mairead-corrigan/) [Explore all 54 Mairead Corrigan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mairead-corrigan/) ## More Alternatives quotes > [I am very sad that some designers are still using real fur when the fake alternatives are so effective and so easily obtainable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twiggy/i-am-very-sad-that-some-designers-are-still-using-real-fur-when-the/) [Twiggy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twiggy/) > [The prophet who fails to present a bearable alternative and yet preaches doom is part of the trap that he postulates. 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The rigidity of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/the-mission-of-christian-humility-in-social-life-is-not-merely-to/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [Maximise the alternative forms in which a user might receive a service, and the alternative sources of supply.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-chipp/maximise-the-alternative-forms-in-which-a-user-might-receive-a/) Don Chipp > [In the last few years, the very idea of telling the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth is dredged up only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-musto/in-the-last-few-years-the-very-idea-of-telling-the-truth-the-whole/) [Michael Musto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-musto/) > [Altermodern is an in-progress redefinition of modernity in the era of globalisation, stressing the experience of wandering in time, space and mediums. 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