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The quotations below are taken from an exchange among Co-Peace members, Baquer Namazi and Andre Roberfroid.
From Baquer:
I liked the wise and compelling words below. So I thought I could share with you given your deep humanism.
Baquer
“If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.” - Mother Teresa
“To deny people their human rights is to challenge their very humanity.” - Nelson Mandela
“An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity.” - Martin Luther King Jr.
“The bond of our common humanity is stronger than the divisiveness of our fears and prejudices.” - Jimmy Carter
“We may have different religions, different languages, different colored skin, but we all belong to one human race. We all share the same basic values.” - Kofi Annan
“The sole meaning of life is to serve humanity.” - Leo Tolstoy
Baquer
“If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.” - Mother Teresa
“To deny people their human rights is to challenge their very humanity.” - Nelson Mandela
“An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity.” - Martin Luther King Jr.
“The bond of our common humanity is stronger than the divisiveness of our fears and prejudices.” - Jimmy Carter
“We may have different religions, different languages, different colored skin, but we all belong to one human race. We all share the same basic values.” - Kofi Annan
“The sole meaning of life is to serve humanity.” - Leo Tolstoy
From Andre:
Thank you so much Baquer for inspiring us. It gave me the idea to visit some of my files "quotes* and found some interesting ones. I start with the wonderful words of Rabbi Irwin Keller last October and continue with quotes of various great minds who have inspired my life. I end with the words of an emotional french song written by Claude Debussy.
The human beings are members of a single body,
For they were created from the same precious gem,
So, whenever a member is subject to suffering,
The other members will also suffer,
You, who care not for others’ sufferings,
Are not worthy to be called a human being
Maria Montessori
There is now escape for any of us save through truth and non-violence. I know that war is wrong, is an unmigitated evil. I know too that it has got to go. I firmly believe that freedom won through bloodshed or fraud is no freedom.
(…)The man is not yet aware that to continue to exist he must arrive at what he works at now only intuitively; to make one nation that includes the whole of humanity…But for that we are not yet ready. It will come in the next generations. It is a question of making use of the last cosmic agent: the child. If we take the child from infancy and allow him to develop his psychological powers and the potentialities within him, place him in relation with other men and make him realize what mankind has accomplished, then this will form the first step in the formation of the accomplished man toward which humanity tends.”
Martha Nussbaum (American philosopher),
Children should acquire the following capabilities (among others):
-Being able to live with and toward others, to recognize and show concern for other human beings, to engage in various forms of social interaction.
-Being able to be treated, as a dignified being whose worth is equal to that of others.
Charles R. Swindoll (pastor)
"Prejudice is a learned trait. You're not born prejudiced; you're taught it. »
Robert A. Heilein (American author)
“Little force is needed to control a man whose mind has been hoodwinked; contrariwise, no amount of force can control a free man, a man whose mind is free. No, not the rack, not fission bombs, not anything -- you can't conquer a free man; the most you can do is kill him.”
Averroes ( Ibn Rochd, muslim philosopher Andalus 1126-1198)
« Ignorance leads to fear, fear leads to hate, and hate leads to violence. This is the equation. »
Gandhi (various quotes)
« Relationships are based on four principles: respect, understanding, acceptance and appreciation.
Hate the sin, love the sinner.
The enemy is fear. We think it is hate; but, it is fear.
There are two days in the year that we can not do anything, yesterday and tomorrow
The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.
In a gentle way, you can shake the world.
A ‘No’ uttered from deepest conviction is better and greater than a ‘Yes’ merely uttered to please, or what is worse, to avoid trouble
The law of love could be best understood and learned through little children.”
You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty.
When there is war, the poet lays down the lyre, the lawyer his law reports, the schoolboy his books
When you are right, you have no need to be angry. When you are wrong, you have no right to be angry
If we want to reach real peace in this world, we should start educating children
Live simply so that others may simply live.”
Our ability to reach unity in diversity will be the beauty and the test of our civilization
The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.
There is more to life than increasing its speed.
Whenever you have truth it must be given with love, or the message and the messenger will be rejected.
God has no religion »
MANDELA
As I walked out the door toward the gate that would lead to my freedom, I knew if I didn't leave my bitterness and hatred behind, I'd still be in prison.
We owe our children – the most vulnerable citizens in any society – a life free from violence and fear.
Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.
Resentment is like drinking poison and then hoping it will kill your enemies.
To be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.
I never lose. I either win or learn.
A nation should not be judged by how it treats its highest citizens, but its lowest ones.
There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way in which it treats its children
In judging our progress as individuals we tend to concentrate on external factors such as one's social position, influence and popularity, wealth and standard of education. (…)But internal factors may be even more crucial in assessing one's development as a human being. Honesty, sincerity, simplicity, humility, pure generosity, absence of vanity, readiness to serve others – qualities which are within reach of every soul – are the foundation of one's spiritual life.
No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite
Bouddha
“Une seule bougie peut en allumer des milliers, et la durée de vie de la bougie n'en sera pas écourtée. Le bonheur n'est jamais diminué du fait d'être partagé.”
Desmond TUTU
If you want peace, you don’t talk to your friends. You talk to your enemies.
Difference are not intended to separate. We are different in order to realise our need of one another
Without forgiveness, there is no future
Good sens does not always lie with the loudest shouters, nor can we say that a large, unruly crowd is always the best arbiter of what is right.
Children are a wonderful gift. They have an extraordinary capacity to see into the heart of things and to expose sham and humbug for what they are.
DEBUSSY
Noël des enfants qui n’ont plus de maison (French song, music and words by Claude Debussy available on iTunes)
Nous n’avons plus de maisons !
Les ennemis ont tout pris, tout pris, tout pris,
Jusqu’à notre petit lits!
Ils ont brûlé l’école et notre maître aussi,
Ils ont brûlé l’église et monsieur Jésus-Christ,
Et le vieux pauvre qui n’a pas pu s’en aller!
Nous n’avons plus de maisons!
Les ennemis ont tout pris, tout pris, tout pris,
Jusqu’à notre petit lit!
Bien sûr! Papa est à la guerre,
Pauvre maman est morte!
Avant d’avoir vu tout ça.
Qu’est-ce que l’on va faire ?
Andre Roberfroid
Quotes:
Quotes:
Rabbi Irwin Keller, Oct. 17, 2023
“Today I am taking side. I am taking the side of Peace. Peace, which I will not abandon even when its voice is drowned out by hurt and hatred, bitterness of loss, cries of right and wrong. I am taking the side of Peace whose name has barely been spoken in this winnerless war. I will hold Peace in my arms, and share my body’s breath, lest Peace be added to the body count. I will call for de-escalation even when I want nothing more than to get even. I will do it in the service of Peace. I will make a clearing in the overgrown thicket of cause and effect so Peace can breathe for a minute and reach for the sky. I will do what I must to save the life of Peace. I will breathe through tears. I will swallow pride. I will bite my tongue. I will offer love without testing for deservingness. So don’t ask me to wave a flag today unless it is the flag of Peace. Don’t ask me to sing an anthem unless it is a song of Peace. Don’t ask me to take sides unless it is the side of Peace. »
Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib
« Hate no one, no matter how much they've wronged you. Live humbly, no matter how wealthy you become. Think positively, no matter how hard life is."
Mikhail Bakunin
“I am truly free only when all human beings, men and women, are equally free. The freedom of other men, far from negating or limiting my freedom, is, on the contrary, its necessary premise and confirmation.”
Jesus (in Matthieu 5:4)
« But I say to you: Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who abuse you and persecute you, »
Confucius (Analects)
The Master said: Do not be concerned that no one recognises your merits. Be concerned that you may not recognise others
Sa’adi (persian poet 1213-1291)
“Today I am taking side. I am taking the side of Peace. Peace, which I will not abandon even when its voice is drowned out by hurt and hatred, bitterness of loss, cries of right and wrong. I am taking the side of Peace whose name has barely been spoken in this winnerless war. I will hold Peace in my arms, and share my body’s breath, lest Peace be added to the body count. I will call for de-escalation even when I want nothing more than to get even. I will do it in the service of Peace. I will make a clearing in the overgrown thicket of cause and effect so Peace can breathe for a minute and reach for the sky. I will do what I must to save the life of Peace. I will breathe through tears. I will swallow pride. I will bite my tongue. I will offer love without testing for deservingness. So don’t ask me to wave a flag today unless it is the flag of Peace. Don’t ask me to sing an anthem unless it is a song of Peace. Don’t ask me to take sides unless it is the side of Peace. »
Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib
« Hate no one, no matter how much they've wronged you. Live humbly, no matter how wealthy you become. Think positively, no matter how hard life is."
Mikhail Bakunin
“I am truly free only when all human beings, men and women, are equally free. The freedom of other men, far from negating or limiting my freedom, is, on the contrary, its necessary premise and confirmation.”
Jesus (in Matthieu 5:4)
« But I say to you: Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who abuse you and persecute you, »
Confucius (Analects)
The Master said: Do not be concerned that no one recognises your merits. Be concerned that you may not recognise others
Sa’adi (persian poet 1213-1291)
The human beings are members of a single body,
For they were created from the same precious gem,
So, whenever a member is subject to suffering,
The other members will also suffer,
You, who care not for others’ sufferings,
Are not worthy to be called a human being
Maria Montessori
There is now escape for any of us save through truth and non-violence. I know that war is wrong, is an unmigitated evil. I know too that it has got to go. I firmly believe that freedom won through bloodshed or fraud is no freedom.
(…)The man is not yet aware that to continue to exist he must arrive at what he works at now only intuitively; to make one nation that includes the whole of humanity…But for that we are not yet ready. It will come in the next generations. It is a question of making use of the last cosmic agent: the child. If we take the child from infancy and allow him to develop his psychological powers and the potentialities within him, place him in relation with other men and make him realize what mankind has accomplished, then this will form the first step in the formation of the accomplished man toward which humanity tends.”
Martha Nussbaum (American philosopher),
Children should acquire the following capabilities (among others):
-Being able to live with and toward others, to recognize and show concern for other human beings, to engage in various forms of social interaction.
-Being able to be treated, as a dignified being whose worth is equal to that of others.
Charles R. Swindoll (pastor)
"Prejudice is a learned trait. You're not born prejudiced; you're taught it. »
Robert A. Heilein (American author)
“Little force is needed to control a man whose mind has been hoodwinked; contrariwise, no amount of force can control a free man, a man whose mind is free. No, not the rack, not fission bombs, not anything -- you can't conquer a free man; the most you can do is kill him.”
Averroes ( Ibn Rochd, muslim philosopher Andalus 1126-1198)
« Ignorance leads to fear, fear leads to hate, and hate leads to violence. This is the equation. »
Gandhi (various quotes)
« Relationships are based on four principles: respect, understanding, acceptance and appreciation.
Hate the sin, love the sinner.
The enemy is fear. We think it is hate; but, it is fear.
There are two days in the year that we can not do anything, yesterday and tomorrow
The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.
In a gentle way, you can shake the world.
A ‘No’ uttered from deepest conviction is better and greater than a ‘Yes’ merely uttered to please, or what is worse, to avoid trouble
The law of love could be best understood and learned through little children.”
You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty.
When there is war, the poet lays down the lyre, the lawyer his law reports, the schoolboy his books
When you are right, you have no need to be angry. When you are wrong, you have no right to be angry
If we want to reach real peace in this world, we should start educating children
Live simply so that others may simply live.”
Our ability to reach unity in diversity will be the beauty and the test of our civilization
The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.
There is more to life than increasing its speed.
Whenever you have truth it must be given with love, or the message and the messenger will be rejected.
God has no religion »
MANDELA
As I walked out the door toward the gate that would lead to my freedom, I knew if I didn't leave my bitterness and hatred behind, I'd still be in prison.
We owe our children – the most vulnerable citizens in any society – a life free from violence and fear.
Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.
Resentment is like drinking poison and then hoping it will kill your enemies.
To be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.
I never lose. I either win or learn.
A nation should not be judged by how it treats its highest citizens, but its lowest ones.
There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way in which it treats its children
In judging our progress as individuals we tend to concentrate on external factors such as one's social position, influence and popularity, wealth and standard of education. (…)But internal factors may be even more crucial in assessing one's development as a human being. Honesty, sincerity, simplicity, humility, pure generosity, absence of vanity, readiness to serve others – qualities which are within reach of every soul – are the foundation of one's spiritual life.
No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite
Bouddha
“Une seule bougie peut en allumer des milliers, et la durée de vie de la bougie n'en sera pas écourtée. Le bonheur n'est jamais diminué du fait d'être partagé.”
Desmond TUTU
If you want peace, you don’t talk to your friends. You talk to your enemies.
Difference are not intended to separate. We are different in order to realise our need of one another
Without forgiveness, there is no future
Good sens does not always lie with the loudest shouters, nor can we say that a large, unruly crowd is always the best arbiter of what is right.
Children are a wonderful gift. They have an extraordinary capacity to see into the heart of things and to expose sham and humbug for what they are.
DEBUSSY
Noël des enfants qui n’ont plus de maison (French song, music and words by Claude Debussy available on iTunes)
Nous n’avons plus de maisons !
Les ennemis ont tout pris, tout pris, tout pris,
Jusqu’à notre petit lits!
Ils ont brûlé l’école et notre maître aussi,
Ils ont brûlé l’église et monsieur Jésus-Christ,
Et le vieux pauvre qui n’a pas pu s’en aller!
Nous n’avons plus de maisons!
Les ennemis ont tout pris, tout pris, tout pris,
Jusqu’à notre petit lit!
Bien sûr! Papa est à la guerre,
Pauvre maman est morte!
Avant d’avoir vu tout ça.
Qu’est-ce que l’on va faire ?
ReplyDeleteBeautifully and meaningfully said! Well worth wide circulation. Thank you! Mary
Dear Andre,
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing these wonderful quotes. We all should learn to live by these.
Best, Esther
Thanks Esther, indeed we should realize that the complexities of living together will never be resolved by some diplomatic gimmicks. We must look at our predicaments from a much broader point of view, driven by human values. War is the very negation of all human values. When we accept that a conflict can only be resolved by war, we accept to forget any human value. The idea that war is regulated by rules or laws is a fantasy.
DeleteI was born in Belgium, occupied by nazi Germany, in 1942. Just 10 days earlier, my father was arrested by the german police and subsequently died in a concentration camp, early 1945. My mother became a war widow at 28 with three children. Her message to me has been very simple: to go to war you need to be two and both very stupid ones! Her wish for me was to never be one of these two. To help me she sent me as a young boy to attend summer camps in Germany, to learn that the son is never guilty of his father's deeds and that revenge is always the seed of the next war.
Sorry to be maybe too personal, but my mother's message shaped my life until today. I was convinced in my young age as much as I am today, that war is NEVER a solution, but always a human failure.
Cheers
Andre
Andre, So very well said. Many of us growing up in the 40s, 50s and 60s were imbued with the image of the brave and righteous warrior defending the right and doing in the bad guys. While not ready to condemn all those in military service, I too nevertheless have come to view war as the ultimate failure of mankind in addressing the challenges of a world of many who or different from each other.
DeleteGreetings Andre
DeleteI join the others in appreciation for your diligence and heart. Now is the time for our group to take two concrete actions as unconditional support for Israel is beginning to show cracks.
1 An open letter to Biden from all living UNICEF USGs ans ASGs. If agreed could Rima help mobilize her peers? We could exclude Veneman if that is the feeling of a majority of members of our group.
2 An open letter from Xunicef to Jill Biden. If agreed I can circulate a draft.
Moncef
Moncef
Thank you Andre,
ReplyDeleteWe can use these wonderful quotes from great humanist to take our humanitarian initiative forward. tks again. baquer
Dear André. Many thanks for sharing these quotes. We need for them to be spread far and wide! Hope you're well!
ReplyDeleteDear Andre,
ReplyDeleteMany thanks for availing to us in one e-mail a rich gem of great quotations of all times applicable to all areas of human endeavor,travails and success. I have saved your e-mail as a Ready Reference for any eventualities. God bless you.
David
Grateful to Andre and all
DeleteI agree with Moncef's action points