"A peace that depends on fear is nothing but a suppressed war"
- Henry Van Dyke
About this Quote
This quote by Henry Van Dyke speaks with the concept that peace that is based upon worry is not real peace at all. It is simply a short-term reprieve from war, a situation in which one party hesitates to act out of worry of the effects. This kind of peace is not sustainable, as it is based upon a power imbalance and the worry of one party that the other will act out if they do not comply. Real peace is based on mutual regard and understanding, not fear. It is a situation in which both celebrations are willing to interact to find a solution that is advantageous to both. Fear-based peace is not a genuine peace, however rather a fragile truce that can quickly be broken.