--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If there is a conflict between the easy…" description: "\"If there is a conflict between the easy drift of prosperity and the ordeal of peace, the ordeal of peace comes first.\" — Norman Cousins" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b91/norman-cousins-2488_conflict_if-there-is-a-conflict-between-the-easy_1590132.png" --- # If there is a conflict between the easy drift of… ![“If there is a conflict between the easy drift of prosperity and the ordeal of peace, the ordeal of peace comes first.” quote by Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b91/norman-cousins-2488_conflict_if-there-is-a-conflict-between-the-easy_1590132.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b91/norman-cousins-2488_conflict_if-there-is-a-conflict-between-the-easy_1590132.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b91/norman-cousins-2488_conflict_if-there-is-a-conflict-between-the-easy_1590132.png) > “If there is a conflict between the easy drift of prosperity and the ordeal of peace, the ordeal of peace comes first.” [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Peace requires sacrifice and discipline, outweighing the ease of material comfort. **In simple terms:** Peace demands effort over comfort. Key Takeaway Prioritize peace over convenience. Themes peace discipline sacrifice Mood thoughtful serious Type philosophical political When to use this quote - Conflict resolution - personal meditation - social activism - policy making Key Concepts Ethics political philosophy Questions to Reflect On - What comforts are you willing to give up for peace? - How can societies balance prosperity and peace? A Different Perspective Peace can be costly and unpopular. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Conflict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conflict/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Prosperity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prosperity/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [Collaboration sometimes causes conflict, and sometimes it's easy, but the bringing together of great minds only adds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-fukunaga/collaboration-sometimes-causes-conflict-and-sometimes-it-s-easy-but/) [Cary Fukunaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-fukunaga/) > [Conflict is easy because weve all had conflict, but to really bond with someone and to have a genuine connection, it needs to come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melonie-diaz/conflict-is-easy-because-weve-all-had-conflict-but-to-really-bond/) [Melonie Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melonie-diaz/) > [If people just asked: "Here are the needs of both sides, here are the resources. What can be done to meet these needs?" the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-b-rosenberg/if-people-just-asked-here-are-the-needs-of-both-sides-here-are-the/) [Marshall B. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-b-rosenberg/) > [“ The Lake Isle of Innisfree I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree, And a small cabin build there, of clay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-butler-yeats/the-lake-isle-of-innisfree-i-will-arise-and-go-now-and-go-to/) [William Butler Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-butler-yeats/) > [“And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow, Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings;...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-b-yeats/and-i-shall-have-some-peace-there-for-peace-comes-dropping-slow/) [W.B. Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-b-yeats/) > [Everybody in this life has their challenges and difficulties. That is part of our mortal test. . . . Peace comes through hope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-faust/everybody-in-this-life-has-their-challenges-and-difficulties-that-is-2/) [James E. Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-faust/) > [Real peace comes only to those who control the body and mind with self-discipline.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vishnudevananda-saraswati/real-peace-comes-only-to-those-who-control-the-body-and-mind-with/) [Vishnudevananda Saraswati](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vishnudevananda-saraswati/) > [Peace comes when there is no cloud between us and God. Peace is the consequence of forgiveness, God's removal of that which obscures His…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-brent/peace-comes-when-there-is-no-cloud-between-us-and-god-peace-is-the/) [Charles Brent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-brent/) > [“The irony of it is that real peace comes only when you stop chasing it—another Catch-22.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhante-henepola-gunaratana/the-irony-of-it-is-that-real-peace-comes-only-when-you-stop-chasing/) [Bhante Henepola Gunaratana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhante-henepola-gunaratana/) > [True peace comes not from the absence of trouble, but from the presence of God and will be deep and passing all understanding in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-maclaren/true-peace-comes-not-from-the-absence-of-trouble-but-from-the/) [Alexander MacLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-maclaren/) > [“Peace comes at a price, often only at the end of a hard-fought battle.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-sorenson/peace-comes-at-a-price-often-only-at-the-end-of-a-hard-fought-battle/) [Toni Sorenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-sorenson/) > [“Peace comes to those who let others live in peace.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indira-mukherjee/peace-comes-to-those-who-let-others-live-in-peace/) Indira Mukherjee > [Peace comes in situations completely surrendered to the sovereign authority of Christ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-moore/peace-comes-in-situations-completely-surrendered-to-the-sovereign/) [Beth Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-moore/) > [And I will find some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow,/ Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-i-will-find-some-peace-there-for-peace-comes-dropping-slow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“is the radiant joy of Being and the deep, unshakable peace that comes with it,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/is-the-radiant-joy-of-being-and-the-deep-unshakable-peace-that-comes/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) ## More by Norman Cousins > [The poet reminds men of their uniqueness and it is not necessary to possess the ultimate definition of this uniqueness. Even to speculate is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/the-poet-reminds-men-of-their-uniqueness-and-it-is-not-necessary-to/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [Unobstructed access to facts can produce unlimited good only if it is matched by the desire and ability to find out what they mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/unobstructed-access-to-facts-can-produce-unlimited-good-only-if-it-is/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [What was significant about the laughter . . . was not just the fact that it provides internal exercise for a person . .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/what-was-significant-about-the-laughter-was-not-just-the-fact-that-it/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [You are younger today than you will ever be again. Make use of it for the sake of tomorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/you-are-younger-today-than-you-will-ever-be-again-make-use-of-it-for/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [On the quality of life: #1. Realize that each human being has a built-in capacity for recuperation and repair. #2. Recognize that the quality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/on-the-quality-of-life-1-realize-that-each-human-being-has-a-built-in/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [What a man really says when he says that someone else can be persuaded by force, is that he himself is incapable of more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/what-a-man-really-says-when-he-says-that-someone-else-can-be/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [The starting point for a better world is the belief that it is possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/the-starting-point-for-a-better-world-is-the-belief-that-it-is/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [The physician knows that his little black bag can carry him only so far and that the body's own healing system is the main…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/the-physician-knows-that-his-little-black-bag-can-carry-him-only-so/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [We are wide-eyed in contemplating the possibility that life may exist elsewhere in the universe, but we wear blinders when contemplating the possibilities of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/we-are-wide-eyed-in-contemplating-the-possibility-that-life-may-exist/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [The essence of man is imperfection. Failure is simply a price we pay to achieve success. If we learn to embrace that new definition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/the-essence-of-man-is-imperfection-failure-is-simply-a-price-we-pay/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [My reason nourishes my faith and my faith my reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/my-reason-nourishes-my-faith-and-my-faith-my-reason/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [The growth of the human mind is still high adventure, in many ways the highest adventure on earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/the-growth-of-the-human-mind-is-still-high-adventure-in-many-ways-the/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [Death is not the enemy; living in constant fear of it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/death-is-not-the-enemy-living-in-constant-fear-of-it-is/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [All this sensory input, which begins in the brain, has its effect throughout the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/all-this-sensory-input-which-begins-in-the-brain-has-its-effect/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [Humanity today is not safe in the presence of humanity. The old cannibalism has given way to anonymous action in which the killer and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/humanity-today-is-not-safe-in-the-presence-of-humanity-the-old/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) [Explore all 162 Norman Cousins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) ## More Conflict quotes > [The history of mankind interests us only as it exhibits a steady gain of truth and right, in the incessant conflict which it records…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-history-of-mankind-interests-us-only-as-it-exhibits-a-steady-gain/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The U.S.-Mexican border es un herida abierta where the Third World grates against the first and bleeds. And before a scab forms it hemorrhages…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-e-anzald-a/the-u-s-mexican-border-es-un-herida-abierta-where-the-third-world/) [Gloria E. Anzaldúa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-e-anzald-a/) > [There is a conflict in the Middle East between two entities, and they're both right, each in their own way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reuven-rivlin/there-is-a-conflict-in-the-middle-east-between-two-entities-and-they/) [Reuven Rivlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reuven-rivlin/) > [Conflict isn't negative, it just is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-crum/conflict-isn-t-negative-it-just-is/) [Thomas Crum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-crum/) > [I have lived in countries that were coming out of conflict: Ireland, South Africa, the Czech republic. People there are overflowing with energy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-eno/i-have-lived-in-countries-that-were-coming-out-of-conflict-ireland/) [Brian Eno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-eno/) > [Africa, being the major target of colonial plunder, therefore becomes a major source of conflict.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-horne/africa-being-the-major-target-of-colonial-plunder-therefore-becomes-a/) [Gerald Horne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-horne/) > [All drama is conflict. Without conflict, there is no action. Without action, there is no character. Without character, there is no story. And without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/syd-field/all-drama-is-conflict-without-conflict-there-is-no-action-without/) [Syd Field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/syd-field/) > [The irrepressible conflict propounded by abolitionism has produced now its legitimate fruits - disunion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-irrepressible-conflict-propounded-by-abolitionism-has-produced/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“These are all good things, I said. But no one knows where your country is or who you are. You don't have a familiar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-shteyngart/these-are-all-good-things-i-said-but-no-one-knows-where-your-country/) [Gary Shteyngart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-shteyngart/) > [I understand the formula that producers hire directors and directors are hired to direct and actors are hired to act. I don't have any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-trejo/i-understand-the-formula-that-producers-hire-directors-and-directors/) [Danny Trejo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-trejo/) > [“While there is battle and hatred men have eyes for nothing save the fact that the enemy is the cause of all the troubles;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-butterfield/while-there-is-battle-and-hatred-men-have-eyes-for-nothing-save-the/) [Herbert Butterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-butterfield/) > [UN peacekeeping operations are now increasingly complex and multi-dimensional, going beyond monitoring a ceasefire to actually bringing failed States back to life, often after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/un-peacekeeping-operations-are-now-increasingly-complex-and-multi/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [All men have an instinct for conflict: at least, all healthy men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilaire-belloc/all-men-have-an-instinct-for-conflict-at-least-all-healthy-men/) [Hilaire Belloc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilaire-belloc/) > [I didnt like the Survivor shows because of the mean-spirited aspect, and women certainly were part of whatever conflict they would create.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-lawrence/i-didnt-like-the-survivor-shows-because-of-the-mean-spirited-aspect/) [Sharon Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-lawrence/) > [“How we traverse the space between us when conflict arises has a profound effect on the health and longevity of our relationships.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/how-we-traverse-the-space-between-us-when-conflict-arises-has-a/) [Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/) [Browse all 3,969 Conflict quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conflict/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If there is a conflict between the easy drift of prosperity and the ordeal of peace, the ordeal of peace comes first.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Norman Cousins" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/if-there-is-a-conflict-between-the-easy-drift-of-prosperity-and-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Conflict" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/if-there-is-a-conflict-between-the-easy-drift-of-prosperity-and-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b91/norman-cousins-2488_conflict_if-there-is-a-conflict-between-the-easy_1590132.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b91/norman-cousins-2488_conflict_if-there-is-a-conflict-between-the-easy_1590132.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b91/norman-cousins-2488_conflict_if-there-is-a-conflict-between-the-easy_1590132.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If there is a conflict between the easy drift of prosperity and the ordeal of peace, the ordeal of peace…” — Norman Cousins", "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": "Norman Cousins", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If there is a conflict between...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/if-there-is-a-conflict-between-the-easy-drift-of-prosperity-and-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/if-there-is-a-conflict-between-the-easy-drift-of-prosperity-and-the/#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 } } ] } ```