Betty Williams Quotes

Dialogue and education for peace can help free our hearts from the impulse toward intolerance and the rejection of others.

Travel is one of the best anti-war weapons that there are. I've been to Iran, and if you're there you see little kids, cops, old people, cemeteries. Once you see that, you can't say, 'Oh, Iran, let's bomb them.'

I like to see myself as a bridge builder, that is me building bridges between people, between races, between cultures, between politics, trying to find common ground.

National culture can act as a bridge, instead of an obstacle, to mutual spiritual and intellectual understanding.

Perhaps if all the peoples of the world understand what war really means, we would eliminate it.

Sectarianism is a real problem, but it should be addressed by people engaging with each other - reconciliation.

To work for better understanding among people, one does not have to be a former president sitting at a fancy conference room table. Peace can be made in the neighborhoods, the living rooms, the playing fields, and the classrooms of our country.

A word of truth can mobilise two peoples looking for the road to reconciliation.

I believe that our national security lies not just in protecting our borders, but in bridging divides.

I hope to use dialogue and culture as a means of bringing people of various cultures together, and using that as a way to resolve conflict.

Not many countries establish a prize for peace. The Seoul Peace Prize has its roots in the 1988 Summer Olympics when this country opened its doors to people and athletes from more than 160 countries. Korea did so in part because it believes in the power of sports for peace and development.

We must concentrate not merely on the negative expulsion of war but the postive affirmation of peace.

We desire the good of the world and the happiness of the nations that the bonds of affection and unity between the sons of men should be strengthened... what harm is there in this?... these fruitless strifes, these ruinous wars shall pass away, and the 'Most Great Peace' shall come.

The idea that you can make love and not war really is pretty neat. That thing in Korea, the thing in Israel - that's all over the world. There must be a new way of thinking.

I have always believed that life is too short for rows and disagreements. Even if I think I'm right, I would prefer to apologize and remain friends rather than win and be an enemy.

Peace comes through dealing with people. Peace doesn't come at the end of a bayonet or the end of a gun.

Religions themselves are... peace-loving. They can also be a constructive force in peace-building, and this also applies to the Middle East.

Restoration of friendship with Russia, our biggest neighbor, is necessary for our peace and economy.

Peace is not made at the council table or by treaties, but in the hearts of men.

Peace demands the united efforts of us all. Who can foresee what spark might ignite the fuse?

Getting to the pint where the other is not the enemy is a big leap.

If you want to bring an end to long-standing conflict, you have to be prepared to compromise.

After September 11, 2001, I was feeling like I really wanted more understanding between cultures. It seemed to me that so much of what happened on September 11 was because people didn't understand each other and were suspicious of each other.

We believe that peace is not just signed papers, but rather a contract between generations for the building of a more promising and less threatening future.

Peace, if it ever exists, will not be based on the fear of war but on the love of peace.