To forgive is not to forget. The merit lies in loving in spite of the vivid knowledge that one that must be loved is not a friend. There is not merit in loving an enemy when you forget him for a friend.
Mahatma GandhiRead
I regard myself as a soldier, though a soldier of peace.
Interpretation
Gandhi views himself as a fighter for peace rather than war, embodying the spirit of a soldier dedicated to non-violence.
In this quote, Mahatma Gandhi emphasizes the idea that one can be a soldier not merely in the context of warfare but as a champion of peace. His self-identification as a 'soldier of peace' highlights his dedication to fighting for justice and equality through non-violent means, showing that the fight for peace can be as noble and rigorous as traditional combat.
In practice
In a speech about community service, I might reference Gandhi's quote to inspire individuals to serve as peacemakers.
To forgive is not to forget. The merit lies in loving in spite of the vivid knowledge that one that must be loved is not a friend. There is not merit in loving an enemy when you forget him for a friend.
Love never claims, it ever gives. Love ever suffers, never resents never revenges itself.
Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.
The real test of nonviolence lies in its being brought in contact with those who have contempt for it.
Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.
The devotion of such titans of spirit as Lenin to an Ideal must bear fruit. The nobility of his selflessness will be an example through centuries to come, and his Ideal will reach perfection.
Peace is an idea born from hope and the desire to see your children raise a family, walk in a market, and engage in simple pleasures of everyday life without fear.
Peace is not merely a distant goal that we seek, but a means by which we arrive at that goal.
Could I have but a line a century hence crediting a contribution to the advance of peace, I would yield every honor which has been accorded by war.
Settlements may be temporary, but the action of the nations in the interest of peace and justice must be permanent. We can set up permanent processes. We may not be able to set up permanent decisions.
It must be a peace without victory
For our part, we shall continue to work for the new dawn when all the Children of Abraham and their descendants are living together in the birthplace of their three great monotheistic religions, a life free from fear, a life free from want - a life in peace.
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