Juan Manuel Santos Quotes

We only make peace with our enemies. That's why it's called making peace.

When we seek reconciliation with our enemies, it is commonly out of a desire to better our own condition, a being harassed and tired out with a state of war, and a fear of some ill accident which we are willing to prevent.

In Turkey, we have lived almost everything that could be lived; war and torture... The war concept was consumed to its limits. But there is only one way we have not tried: negotiations, peace, and talking.

There are universal traits and aspects of all these conflicts, and I think that all of them have bridgeable solutions. The only question is whether you are ready to take the challenge, to pay the price, to compromise in order to get more. This, I believe, is the challenge for all the peacemakers in the world.

It is easier to obstruct peace than it is to promote it.

Middle East history is replete with examples of missed and lost chances to make peace.

It is much safer to reconcile an enemy than to conquer him; victory may deprive him of his poison, but reconciliation of his will.

Peace is a question of will. All conflicts can be settled, and there are no excuses for allowing them to become eternal.

We extend our hand towards peace. Our people are committed to peace. We know that peace entails painful compromise for both sides.

If you want to make peace, you don't talk to your friends. You talk to your enemies.

I think placing preconditions before negotiations is the quickest way to undermine peace.

We call upon all sides to stop hostilities and restart peace talks.

There is no such thing as a conflict that cannot be ended.

A war is not won if the defeated enemy has not been turned into a friend.

According to the “ripeness theory,” every conflict reaches a point when the parties are tired of confrontation and determine it is in their interest to make peace. With practical steps, principled leadership, and encouragement from the international community, the peace process still represents a win-win for both sides.

You can’t have peace without a war.

If we don't manage to find not just a compromise but a lasting peace agreement, we know perfectly well what the scenario will be. It has a name, it's called war.

There is not a more prudent maxim, than to live with one's enemies as if they may one day become one's friends; as it commonly happens, sooner or later, in the vicissitudes of political affairs.

There are times for making war and times for making peace.

It is highly probable that in most cases, war could be avoided or ended. For discussions allow passion to subside, and to persuade alienated neighbors, or at least one of them, to listen to the voice of a conciliator is a step in the direction of peace.

Sharon is capable of making peace.

It is far easier to make war than peace.

I have traveled a long road from the battlefield to the peace table.

Winning the peace is harder than winning the war.

Making peace, I have found, is much harder than making war.