--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He reflected that, from a distance, the…" description: "\"“He reflected that, from a distance, the world might conceivably look to be at peace, a state of affairs that always ends in war, eventually.”\" — Terry..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dbc/terry-pratchett-19_peace_he-reflected-that-from-a-distance-the-wo_3057855.jpg" --- # He reflected that, from a distance, the world might… ![“He reflected that, from a distance, the world might conceivably look to be at peace, a state of affairs that always ends in war, eventually.” quote by Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dbc/terry-pratchett-19_peace_he-reflected-that-from-a-distance-the-wo_3057855.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dbc/terry-pratchett-19_peace_he-reflected-that-from-a-distance-the-wo_3057855.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dbc/terry-pratchett-19_peace_he-reflected-that-from-a-distance-the-wo_3057855.jpg) > ““He reflected that, from a distance, the world might conceivably look to be at peace, a state of affairs that always ends in war, eventually.”” [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. From afar, peace appears possible, but history shows it inevitably leads to war. **In simple terms:** Peace seems possible but often ends in war. Key Takeaway Recognize that peace may be fragile. Themes philosophy war peace Mood cautious analytical Type philosophical political When to use this quote - political negotiations - international diplomacy - peacebuilding initiatives Key Concepts historical cycles human nature conflict resolution Questions to Reflect On - Why does peace often collapse into war? - What conditions could sustain lasting peace? A Different Perspective Peace may be achievable with different structures. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ends War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ends-war-2697042/) [Look Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/look-peace-786020/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Peace State](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace-state-2162168/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [War Eventually](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war-eventually-1576180/) [World Conceivably](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world-conceivably-5116409/) ## Related quotes > [We desire peace. 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White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-b-white/) > [Peace is a state of mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katelind/peace-is-a-state-of-mind/) [Katelind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katelind/) > [“Peace is not a state of mind, but a state of being.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shiva-negi/peace-is-not-a-state-of-mind-but-a-state-of-being/) [Shiva Negi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shiva-negi/) > [Peace is that state in which fear of any kind is unknown.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-buchan/peace-is-that-state-in-which-fear-of-any-kind-is-unknown/) [John Buchan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-buchan/) > [“Happiness is a choice. Peace is a state of mind. Both are free!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-leigh-mercree/happiness-is-a-choice-peace-is-a-state-of-mind-both-are-free/) [Amy Leigh Mercree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-leigh-mercree/) > [I think I am a very kind person. I think I'm joyful, but I could be kinder and I could be more joyful. 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Don't look for any other state than the one you are in now; otherwise, you will set up inner conflict…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/don-t-look-for-peace-don-t-look-for-any-other-state-than-the-one-you/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [“Just like trouble, if you look for peace you'll find it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teni-a/just-like-trouble-if-you-look-for-peace-you-ll-find-it/) [Teni. A](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teni-a/) > [Stop doing what is wrong, and do good... Look for peace, and do all you can to help people live peacefully.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/stop-doing-what-is-wrong-and-do-good-look-for-peace-and-do-all-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Terry Pratchett > [“This one’s mental.’ ‘Eccentric.’ ‘What’s the difference?’ ‘A bag of cash.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/this-one-s-mental-eccentric-what-s-the-difference-a-bag-of-cash/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“But I did not return until half past four this morning and I distinctly remember stubbing my toe on the stairs. I am as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/but-i-did-not-return-until-half-past-four-this-morning-and-i/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“The universe contains any amount of horrible ways to be woken up, such as the noise of the mob breaking down the front door,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/the-universe-contains-any-amount-of-horrible-ways-to-be-woken-up-such/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“Someone broke from the scrum and, punching and kicking, staggered towards the Klatchian goal. "Isn't that man your butler?" said Ahmed. "Yes." "One of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/someone-broke-from-the-scrum-and-punching-and-kicking-staggered/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [It's an interesting fact that fewer than 17 % of Real cats end their lives with the same name they started with. Much family…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/it-s-an-interesting-fact-that-fewer-than-17-of-real-cats-end-their/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [You can't trust folk songs. They always sneak up on you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/you-can-t-trust-folk-songs-they-always-sneak-up-on-you/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Either dragons should exist completely or fail to exist at all, he felt. A dragon only half-existing was worse than the extremes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/either-dragons-should-exist-completely-or-fail-to-exist-at-all-he/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“Magrat wondered what it was like, spending your whole life doing something you didn’t want to do. Like being dead, she considered, only worse,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/magrat-wondered-what-it-was-like-spending-your-whole-life-doing/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [A hardback's harder at Christmas time because that's a good hardback buying time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/a-hardback-s-harder-at-christmas-time-because-that-s-a-good-hardback/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“There were more old people. The world was full of them,' said the wizard. 'Yes, I know. And now it's full of young people.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/there-were-more-old-people-the-world-was-full-of-them-said-the-wizard/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“Hobson was big and heavyset, but not exactly fat; he was probably what you’d get if you shaved a bear.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/hobson-was-big-and-heavyset-but-not-exactly-fat-he-was-probably-what/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“There is a night that never comes to an end… The clock of the world turns under its own shadow. Midnight is a moving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/there-is-a-night-that-never-comes-to-an-end-the-clock-of-the-world/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“You'd like Freedom, Truth, and Justice, wouldn't you, Comrade Sergeant?' said Reg encouragingly. 'I'd like a hard-boiled egg,' said Vimes, shaking the match out.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/you-d-like-freedom-truth-and-justice-wouldn-t-you-comrade-sergeant/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“You are not apprehensive, are you? I can't detect no trace of fear none whatsoever Roomy cranium all possible videos of all possible outcomes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/you-are-not-apprehensive-are-you-i-can-t-detect-no-trace-of-fear-none/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Imagination, not intelligence, made us human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/imagination-not-intelligence-made-us-human/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) [Explore all 3,328 Terry Pratchett quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) ## More Peace quotes > [Just understand that the good that you want is already here. All you have to do is get in harmony with it. And you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/just-understand-that-the-good-that-you-want-is-already-here-all-you/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [“Peace requires a discipline more iron than war. - Easter, 1939 ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-j-turner/peace-requires-a-discipline-more-iron-than-war-easter-1939/) [W.J. Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-j-turner/) > [You practice mindfulness, on the one hand, to be calm and peaceful. On the other hand, as you practice mindfulness and live a life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-practice-mindfulness-on-the-one-hand-to-be-calm-and-peaceful-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Achieving mental harmony is one of the greatest goals and experiences in life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kambiz-mostofizadeh/achieving-mental-harmony-is-one-of-the-greatest-goals-and-experiences/) [Kambiz Mostofizadeh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kambiz-mostofizadeh/) > [When we are capable of living in the moment free from the tyranny of "shoulds," free from the nagging sensation that this moment isn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-z-borysenko/when-we-are-capable-of-living-in-the-moment-free-from-the-tyranny-of/) [Joan Z. Borysenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-z-borysenko/) > [“Tranquillity is courage in repose. It is a statical manifestation of valor, as daring deeds are a dynamical. A truly brave man is ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/inazo-nitobe/tranquillity-is-courage-in-repose-it-is-a-statical-manifestation-of/) [Inazo Nitobe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/inazo-nitobe/) > [“There is no fortune greater than peace; there is no force greater than peace; there is no excellent tapas greater than peace; there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muruganar/there-is-no-fortune-greater-than-peace-there-is-no-force-greater-than/) [Muruganar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muruganar/) > [Give me love, give me peace on earth, give me light, give me life, keep me free from birth, give me hope, help me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/give-me-love-give-me-peace-on-earth-give-me-light-give-me-life-keep/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [ Vote for Donald Trump. You're going to see something and you'll be so happy, you'll be so thrilled. This \[presidential\] election is about every… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/vote-for-donald-trump-you-re-going-to-see-something-and-you-ll-be-so/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [One of the things that touches me most when I play for an audience is that although we may be unable to communicate in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hough/one-of-the-things-that-touches-me-most-when-i-play-for-an-audience-is/) [Stephen Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hough/) > [The great force for forging a society into a solid mass has always been war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-graham-sumner/the-great-force-for-forging-a-society-into-a-solid-mass-has-always/) [William Graham Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-graham-sumner/) > [The peaceful transition of power is one of the hallmarks of our democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-peaceful-transition-of-power-is-one-of-the-hallmarks-of-our/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Peace is the first thing the angels sang. Peace is the mark of the children of God. Peace is the nurse of love. Peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-leo-i/peace-is-the-first-thing-the-angels-sang-peace-is-the-mark-of-the/) [Pope Leo I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-leo-i/) > [War is like a fire. One man may start it, but it will spread all over. It is not about one thing in particular.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/war-is-like-a-fire-one-man-may-start-it-but-it-will-spread-all-over/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 27,655 Peace quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“He reflected that, from a distance, the world might conceivably look to be at peace, a state of affairs that always ends in war, eventually.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Terry Pratchett" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/he-reflected-that-from-a-distance-the-world-might-conceivably-look-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Peace" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/he-reflected-that-from-a-distance-the-world-might-conceivably-look-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dbc/terry-pratchett-19_peace_he-reflected-that-from-a-distance-the-wo_3057855.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dbc/terry-pratchett-19_peace_he-reflected-that-from-a-distance-the-wo_3057855.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dbc/terry-pratchett-19_peace_he-reflected-that-from-a-distance-the-wo_3057855.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“He reflected that, from a distance, the world might conceivably look to be at peace, a state of affairs that…” — Terry Pratchett", "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": "Terry Pratchett", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“He reflected that, from a distance,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/he-reflected-that-from-a-distance-the-world-might-conceivably-look-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/he-reflected-that-from-a-distance-the-world-might-conceivably-look-to/#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 } } ] } ```