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Of the past 3,400 years, humans have been entirely at peace for 268 of them, or just 8 percent of recorded history.
Chris Hedges
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Interpretation

What this quote means

This quote highlights the rarity of peace in human history.

Chris Hedges underscores the astonishing fact that out of a span of 3,400 years, humanity has experienced only a fleeting 268 years of peace. This stark statistic serves as a reflection on the nature of human conflict and the challenges we face in striving for a harmonious existence, inviting deeper contemplation on the causes of war and the pursuit of peace throughout history.

Themes

PeaceConflictHistoryHumanityWar

In practice

Example use cases

During a conference on global peace initiatives, this quote can be used to illustrate the importance of striving for harmony.

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The few surviving Armenians no longer ask to go home. They do not ask for restitution. They ask simply to have the memory of their obliteration acknowledged. It is a moral obsession, the lonely legacy passed onto the third and fourth generation who no longer speak Armenian but who carry within them the seeds of resentment that will not be quashed.
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It is better to be an outcast, a stranger in one’s own country, than an outcast from one’s self. It is better to see what is about to befall us and to resist than to retreat into the fantasies embraced by a nation of the blind.
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There are two sets of principles. They are the principles of power and privilege and the principles of truth and justice. If you pursue truth and justice it will always mean a diminution of power and privilege. If you pursue power and privilege, it will always be at the expense of truth and justice
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Quote by Chris Hedges | QuoteProject