--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Everybody wants peace. That's a truism…" description: "\"Everybody wants peace. That's a truism. There is no point in accomplishing through war what you can accomplish through peace.\" — Norman Finkelstein" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e35/norman-finkelstein-8854_accomplish_everybody-wants-peace-that-s-a-truism-th_2695545.png" --- # Everybody wants peace. That's a truism. There is no point… ![“Everybody wants peace. That's a truism. There is no point in accomplishing through war what you can accomplish through peace.” quote by Norman Finkelstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e35/norman-finkelstein-8854_accomplish_everybody-wants-peace-that-s-a-truism-th_2695545.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e35/norman-finkelstein-8854_accomplish_everybody-wants-peace-that-s-a-truism-th_2695545.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e35/norman-finkelstein-8854_accomplish_everybody-wants-peace-that-s-a-truism-th_2695545.png) > “Everybody wants peace. That's a truism. There is no point in accomplishing through war what you can accomplish through peace.” [Norman Finkelstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-finkelstein/) ## 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 preferable; war is unnecessary when goals can be achieved peacefully. **In simple terms:** Choose peace over war. Key Takeaway Seek nonviolent solutions. Themes peace conflict resolution ethics Mood reflective hopeful Type political philosophical When to use this quote - international relations - activism - negotiation Key Concepts diplomacy nonviolence Questions to Reflect On - How can peace be pursued in entrenched wars? - What are the limits of nonviolence? A Different Perspective Peace may be unrealistic in some conflicts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Truism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truism/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [“And what does war even accomplish? How does one country win over another by simply killing its people? None of it makes any sense.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-meissner/and-what-does-war-even-accomplish-how-does-one-country-win-over/) [Susan Meissner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-meissner/) > [There can be no perfect democracy curtailed by color, race, or poverty. But with all we accomplish all, even peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-e-b-du-bois/there-can-be-no-perfect-democracy-curtailed-by-color-race-or-poverty/) [W. E. B. Du Bois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-e-b-du-bois/) > [If we want to try again, then try again. The point is we have free will to act and accomplish along with the peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-kest/if-we-want-to-try-again-then-try-again-the-point-is-we-have-free-will/) [Bryan Kest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-kest/) > [I think Israel, as a number of commentators pointed out, is becoming an insane state. And we have to be honest about that. While…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-finkelstein/i-think-israel-as-a-number-of-commentators-pointed-out-is-becoming-an/) [Norman Finkelstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-finkelstein/) > [I understand the desire to get out of Afghanistan. No one wants peace more than the veterans like me who have lived these wars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-waltz/i-understand-the-desire-to-get-out-of-afghanistan-no-one-wants-peace/) [Michael Waltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-waltz/) > [Man wants two contradictory things together: he wants peace and he is ambitious. It is impossible. If you are ambitious, then your mind is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/man-wants-two-contradictory-things-together-he-wants-peace-and-he-is/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [I don't really think our government at heart wants peace. So I urge you, write to Mrs. Laura Bush, because she reads.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-cisneros/i-don-t-really-think-our-government-at-heart-wants-peace-so-i-urge/) [Sandra Cisneros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-cisneros/) > [The government of the United States doesn't want peace. It wants to exploit its system of exploitation, of pillage, of hegemony through war. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-chavez/the-government-of-the-united-states-doesn-t-want-peace-it-wants-to/) [Hugo Chavez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-chavez/) > [Punjab does not want war. Punjab wants peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amarinder-singh/punjab-does-not-want-war-punjab-wants-peace/) [Amarinder Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amarinder-singh/) > [Every married man who wants peace in the relationship, should learn the trick to avoid that one question - 'How is the food?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emraan-hashmi/every-married-man-who-wants-peace-in-the-relationship-should-learn/) [Emraan Hashmi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emraan-hashmi/) > [If the West wants to have peace, then they have to accept Islamic rule.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abu-bakar-bashir/if-the-west-wants-to-have-peace-then-they-have-to-accept-islamic-rule/) [Abu Bakar Bashir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abu-bakar-bashir/) > [Everyone wants peace - and they will fight the most terrible war to get it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-kington/everyone-wants-peace-and-they-will-fight-the-most-terrible-war-to-get/) [Miles Kington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-kington/) > [Italy wants peace and quiet, work and calm. I will give these things with love if possible and with force if necessary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benito-mussolini/italy-wants-peace-and-quiet-work-and-calm-i-will-give-these-things/) [Benito Mussolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benito-mussolini/) > [Each of us is the only person who can give the other what each of us wants to have: Peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ugo-betti/each-of-us-is-the-only-person-who-can-give-the-other-what-each-of-us/) [Ugo Betti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ugo-betti/) > [A Guy Just Wants peace of mind sometimes. He doesn't want to go to war with the one he loves. He want shit to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enhance-dreams/a-guy-just-wants-peace-of-mind-sometimes-he-doesn-t-want-to-go-to-war/) Enhance Dreams ## More by Norman Finkelstein > [The whole purpose of annual reviews is to keep you abreast of whether or not you are fulfilling the requirements of tenure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-finkelstein/the-whole-purpose-of-annual-reviews-is-to-keep-you-abreast-of-whether/) [Norman Finkelstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-finkelstein/) > [Public opinion in the United States has shifted significantly, not just outside but also within the Jewish community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-finkelstein/public-opinion-in-the-united-states-has-shifted-significantly-not/) [Norman Finkelstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-finkelstein/) > [There is a fundamental principle. People have the right to defend their country from foreign occupiers, and people have the right to defend their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-finkelstein/there-is-a-fundamental-principle-people-have-the-right-to-defend/) [Norman Finkelstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-finkelstein/) > [They used to say Palestinians fight like heroes, now they say heroes fight like Palestinians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-finkelstein/they-used-to-say-palestinians-fight-like-heroes-now-they-say-heroes/) [Norman Finkelstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-finkelstein/) > [Every year, the United Nations General Assembly votes on a resolution entitled 'Peaceful resolution of the Palestine conflict.' Every year, the vote is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-finkelstein/every-year-the-united-nations-general-assembly-votes-on-a-resolution/) [Norman Finkelstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-finkelstein/) > [As one Israeli said, "It's a big mistake for Israel to say it 'won' the war, when there was no war. There were no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-finkelstein/as-one-israeli-said-it-s-a-big-mistake-for-israel-to-say-it-won-the/) [Norman Finkelstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-finkelstein/) > [Why should these Palestinians, who have lived in Jerusalem for hundreds of years, be evicted from their homes so that Jews from Brooklyn can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-finkelstein/why-should-these-palestinians-who-have-lived-in-jerusalem-for/) [Norman Finkelstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-finkelstein/) > [I think Israel, as a number of commentators pointed out, is becoming an insane state. And we have to be honest about that. While…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-finkelstein/i-think-israel-as-a-number-of-commentators-pointed-out-is-becoming-an/) [Norman Finkelstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-finkelstein/) > [Personal convictions are not politics. Personal convictions, if they become the subject of a group conviction, they become a cult.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-finkelstein/personal-convictions-are-not-politics-personal-convictions-if-they/) [Norman Finkelstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-finkelstein/) > [I earn - I'm not - I don't want to claim I'm a scholar of great stature, but I have made a certain reputation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-finkelstein/i-earn-i-m-not-i-don-t-want-to-claim-i-m-a-scholar-of-great-stature/) [Norman Finkelstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-finkelstein/) > [They've (Israel) lost the battle for public opinion. They claim it's because American Jews know too little.. I claim it's because they know too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-finkelstein/they-ve-israel-lost-the-battle-for-public-opinion-they-claim-it-s/) [Norman Finkelstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-finkelstein/) > [I no longer say I'm unemployed. I say I'm unemployable. It's different. An unemployed suggests at a certain point in the future, you might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-finkelstein/i-no-longer-say-i-m-unemployed-i-say-i-m-unemployable-it-s-different/) [Norman Finkelstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-finkelstein/) > [Israel has been a stage on which American Jews have played out their fantasies of toughness - often from Martha's Vineyard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-finkelstein/israel-has-been-a-stage-on-which-american-jews-have-played-out-their/) [Norman Finkelstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-finkelstein/) > [Mainstream Jewish intellectuals became 'pro'-Israel after the June 1967 war when Israel became the U.S.A.' s strategic asset in the Middle East, i.e., when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-finkelstein/mainstream-jewish-intellectuals-became-pro-israel-after-the-june-1967/) [Norman Finkelstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-finkelstein/) > [As Israel becomes like South Africa, it's increasingly becoming a pariah state, being excluded from culture at large.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-finkelstein/as-israel-becomes-like-south-africa-it-s-increasingly-becoming-a/) [Norman Finkelstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-finkelstein/) [Explore all 77 Norman Finkelstein quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-finkelstein/) ## More Accomplish quotes > [Learn to see the big picture. 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Sometimes I don't accomplish anything every day, but if I don't work every day, I get depressed and get afraid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-didion/i-work-every-day-sometimes-i-don-t-accomplish-anything-every-day-but/) [Joan Didion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-didion/) > [God has given believers the responsibility of spreading the Gospel to all the world, and we need to use all at our disposal to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-epp/god-has-given-believers-the-responsibility-of-spreading-the-gospel-to/) [Theodore Epp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-epp/) > [ \[The Community's\] crosses and trials give me confidence. But I derive my hope above all, and most especially, from our utter incapacity, for it… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-guerin/the-community-s-crosses-and-trials-give-me-confidence-but-i-derive-my/) [Theodore Guerin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-guerin/) > [There's things that you want to accomplish, but to do that you have to work. That's the name of the game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-schwarber/there-s-things-that-you-want-to-accomplish-but-to-do-that-you-have-to/) [Kyle Schwarber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-schwarber/) > [To accomplish much you must first lose everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/che-guevara/to-accomplish-much-you-must-first-lose-everything/) [Che Guevara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/che-guevara/) > [We have to think about the future and what it is we want to accomplish from this party.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-bernice-johnson/we-have-to-think-about-the-future-and-what-it-is-we-want-to/) [Eddie Bernice Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-bernice-johnson/) > [Everything that I have ever hoped to accomplish, she has done and done better than anyone I have ever seen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-hathaway/everything-that-i-have-ever-hoped-to-accomplish-she-has-done-and-done/) [Anne Hathaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-hathaway/) > [There's a lot that I want to accomplish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/there-s-a-lot-that-i-want-to-accomplish/) [George W. 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