--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Peace ca n exist only in the present…" description: "\"Peace ca n exist only in the present moment. It is rid iculous to say \"Wait until I fi nish this, then I will be free to live in peace.\" What is \"this\"..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac3/nhat-hanh-515_able_peace-ca-n-exist-only-in-the-present-mom_595382.jpg" --- # Peace ca n exist only in the present moment. It is rid… ![“Peace ca n exist only in the present moment. It is rid iculous to say "Wait until I fi nish this, then I will be free to live in peace." What is "this" ? A diploma, a job, a house, the payment of a debt? If yo u th ink that way, peace wi ll never come. There is always another "th is" that wi ll fo…” quote by Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac3/nhat-hanh-515_able_peace-ca-n-exist-only-in-the-present-mom_595382.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac3/nhat-hanh-515_able_peace-ca-n-exist-only-in-the-present-mom_595382.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac3/nhat-hanh-515_able_peace-ca-n-exist-only-in-the-present-mom_595382.jpg) > “Peace ca n exist only in the present moment. It is rid iculous to say "Wait until I fi nish this, then I will be free to live in peace." What is "this" ? A diploma, a job, a house, the payment of a debt? If yo u th ink that way, peace wi ll never come. There is always another "th is" that wi ll fo llow the present one. If you are not living in peace at this moment, you will never be able to . If you truly wa nt to be at peace, you must be at peace right now. Otherwise, there is only "the hope of peace some day.” [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Peace is found only in the present; postponing it to future achievements prevents true calm. **In simple terms:** Peace exists now, not later. Key Takeaway Practice mindfulness now. Themes mindfulness peace present moment attachment impermanence Mood calm reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - stressful work - relationship conflict - health recovery - financial anxiety Key Concepts Zen Buddhism psychology spirituality Questions to Reflect On - How can you anchor yourself in the now? - What habits keep you from living in the present? A Different Perspective Future goals can distract from present peace; balance is needed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Able](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/) [Debt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/debt/) [Exist Present](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exist-present-544819/) [Hope Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope-peace-544820/) [House](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/house/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Ink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ink/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) [Live In Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/live-in-peace/) [Live Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/live-peace/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Payment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/payment/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Peace Moment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace-moment-2010094/) [Present moment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/present-moment/) [Right now](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-now/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Waiting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waiting/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [“Peace can exist only in the present moment. It is rid iculous to say "Wait until I finish this, then I will be free…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/peace-can-exist-only-in-the-present-moment-it-is-rid-iculous-to-say/) [Thich Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/) > [Find joy and peace in this very moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/find-joy-and-peace-in-this-very-moment/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [The whole visible world is perhaps nothing more than the rationalization of a man who wants to find peace for a moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/the-whole-visible-world-is-perhaps-nothing-more-than-the/) [Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/) > [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/) > [Every year, tens of thousands of lives are impacted by terrorist violence around the globe. 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I don't even want to be a pop star. I just want to live in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-harrison/i-don-t-want-to-be-a-film-star-i-don-t-even-want-to-be-a-pop-star-i/) [George Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-harrison/) > [I have been, and will remain, outspoken in my insistence that Israel has a right to live in peace and security.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/i-have-been-and-will-remain-outspoken-in-my-insistence-that-israel/) [Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/) > [Wars are to be undertaken in order that it may be possible to live in peace without molestation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/wars-are-to-be-undertaken-in-order-that-it-may-be-possible-to-live-in/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [I just want to live in peace and quiet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnetha-faltskog/i-just-want-to-live-in-peace-and-quiet/) [Agnetha Faltskog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnetha-faltskog/) ## More by Nhat Hanh > [Happiness is the cessation of suffering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/happiness-is-the-cessation-of-suffering/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [We need enlightenment, not just individually but collectively, to save the planet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/we-need-enlightenment-not-just-individually-but-collectively-to-save/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [If you really know how to live, what better way to start the day than with a smile?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/if-you-really-know-how-to-live-what-better-way-to-start-the-day-than/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [Contemplating the bowl, it is possible to see the interdependent elements which give rise to the bowl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/contemplating-the-bowl-it-is-possible-to-see-the-interdependent/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [Our joy, peace and happiness depend very much on our practice of recognizing and transforming habit energies. 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