Skip to content
quotesby

If wars in the future are to be prevented the nations must be united in their determination to keep the peace under law. Nothing is more essential to the future peace of the world than continued cooperation of the nations which had to muster the force necessary to defeat the conspiracy of the Axis powers to dominate the world. While these great states have a special responsibility to enforce the peace, their responsibility is based upon the obligations resting upon all states, large and small, not to use force in international relations except in the defense of law. The responsibility of the great states is to serve and not to dominate the world.

Harry S. Truman#32

PeaceLawCooperationInternational lawInternational relations

About this quote

What does it mean?
Truman states that global peace requires international cooperation and adherence to law rather than dominance.
In plain terms
Nations must work together under law to keep peace, and powerful states should serve not dominate.
What can you take from it?
Global peace depends on cooperation and the rule of law.

Where it applies

  • international diplomacy
  • post-war reconstruction
  • peacekeeping efforts

Putting it to work

  • support international organizations
  • advocate for rule of law

Questions to consider

  • How can nations ensure cooperation?
  • What is the role of powerful states in peace?

Another view

The quote assumes all nations share the goal of peace.

More from Harry S. Truman

  1. In bitter despair, some people have come to believe that wars are inevitable. With tragic fatalism, they insist that wars have always been, of necessity, and o…

    Permalink to quote #31
  2. Today, America has become one of the most powerful forces for good on earth. We must keep it so. We have achieved a world leadership which does not depend sole…

    Permalink to quote #33
  3. It is not enough to yearn for peace. We must work, and if necessary, fight for it. The task of creating a sound international organization is complicated and d…

    Permalink to quote #30

Related quotes

  1. All really civilized communities should have effective arbitration treaties among themselves. I believe that these treaties can cover almost all questions liab…

    Theodore RooseveltTheodore Roosevelt quote #48
  2. If the United States and the United Nations truly want peace and security let them fulfill the hopes of the common people everywhere - let them work together t…

    Paul RobesonPaul Robeson quote #2
  3. Since the narrower or wider community of the peoples of the earth has developed so far that a violation of rights in one place is felt throughout the world, th…

    Immanuel KantImmanuel Kant quote #3