Skip to content
quotesby

About this quote

What does it mean?
War is conflict over resources, but peace could come if large ambitions became generous ideals.
In plain terms
War is fighting over stuff, but peace might happen if we cared more about giving than taking.
What can you take from it?
Generosity can transform conflict into peace.

Where it applies

  • conflict resolution
  • political theory
  • peacebuilding

Putting it to work

  • promote generosity
  • reframe ambitions

Questions to consider

  • Can ideals stop war?
  • What turns pillage into peace?

Another view

Ideals rarely change the material drivers of war.

More from Marianne Moore

  1. O to be a dragon, a symbol of the power of Heaven - of silkworm size or immense; at times invisible. Felicitous phenomenon!

    Permalink to quote #2
  2. A writer is unfair to himself when he is unable to be hard on himself.

    Permalink to quote #3
  3. You are not male nor female, but a plan deep-set within the heart of man.

    Permalink to quote #4

Related quotes

  1. I realized that more and more I was saying, 'It seems to me that we have come to the time war ought to be given up. It no longer makes sense to kill 20 million…

    Linus PaulingLinus Pauling quote #3
  2. There never was a good war or a bad peace.

    Benjamin FranklinBenjamin Franklin quote #9
  3. You ask what I am for and what I am against in Spain. I would give my right hand of course to prevent the agony; I would not give a flick of my little finger t…

    Robinson JeffersRobinson Jeffers quote #13