I am not only a pacifist but a militant pacifist. I am willing to fight for peace. Nothing will end war unless the people themselves refuse to go to war.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Einstein calls himself a militant pacifist willing to fight for peace against war.
- In plain terms
- He will actively resist war because people must refuse to fight.
- What can you take from it?
- Peace requires active resistance, not just passive hope.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Can peace ever be achieved through conflict?
- When is fighting for peace necessary?
Another view
Militant pacifism can seem contradictory to some.
More from Albert Einstein
It is my view that the vegetarian manner of living by its purely physical effect on the human temperament would most beneficially influence the lot of mankind.
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