Best 20 Peace Quotes for Kids to Explain War & Peace

War, being the expression of human hostility that it is, can easily – and rightfully – scare or confuse children. By coincidence, the term war has derived from a word that meant “to confuse, perplex”. On the other hand, peace as a concept is an amalgam of a lot of positive values that humanity stands for. So what exactly is peace and why is the white dove its symbol? The answer can come through some famous peace quotes for kids or with a short look back at world history.

Tracing back peace through its own etymology and symbol can give us solutions when we’re asked to present and analyze its concept. You can also share, print or simply show images with quotes to start a conversation about peace and its importance.

Peace, a definition for kids

The dove as a peace symbol
World Peace Quotes for kids
Conclusion and Thoughts after Reading Peace Quotes for Kids

Peace, a definition for kids

Kids always live in the present moment, their bodies take unhindered breaths, and they are constantly expressing their emotions. This combination of human characteristics often makes it rather difficult for adults to give them a definition of peace, whether inner peace and calmness, or the idea of a constant state of lack of wars and fighting.

However a general peace definition for kids would be:

Peace is the time we spend without any fights or wars.

When it comes to explaining the concept of an ideal universal state of happiness, freedom, and respect on Planet Earth, things might get a bit more complicated. Parents, family members and teachers alike try to find the right balance: we can’t scare kids by making a thorough analysis of the complex geopolitical situation on the planet, but we shouldn’t lie either: war is a big deal.

If we went for a world peace definition, we might say:

World Peace is the time when people and nations respect each other and avoid wars and conflicts, regardless of their differences in culture, religions or everyday life habits and philosophies.

If children ask about war, parents should answer only what has been asked, in a short and clear way. It’s important that the child should feel safe (war is, after all, normally considered an exception to otherwise peaceful times), but parents or teachers should be prepared to talk about the paradox of human conflict and its conditions.

The dove as a peace symbol

The dove has been a symbol of peace and innocence for thousands of years in various cultures worldwide.

It’s not hard to see why: doves build their nests in areas where people live, so it probably didn’t take humans long to witness the love, care, and dedication that white doves naturally display. They also feed on fruits, plants, and seeds, and they are mostly harmless.

Doves have even been symbols since ancient times.

In ancient Greek mythology it was a symbol of love and the renewal of life.

In ancient Japan a dove carrying a sword symbolized the end of war.
In the Christian Bible, when the waters recede after the global flood God had sent to remake life on Earth, Noah sends out a dove. The dove returns with an olive leaf, thus gaining a status as a symbol of deliverance and God’s forgiveness for early Christians.

In modern times, it was Spanish painter Pablo Picasso who established the dove as a symbol of peace when he used it as the theme of his work Dove of Peace, which was in turn selected as the emblem for the World Peace Congress in 1949.

Courtesy of www.PabloPicasso.org

World Peace Quotes for kids

Integrity is doing the right thing even when no one is watching. C.S. Lewis
Peace is a journey of a thousand miles and it must be taken one step at a time. Lyndon B. Johnson

If you see someone without a smile, give them one of yours. Dolly Parton
Peace is not absence of conflict, it is the ability to handle conflict by peaceful means. Ronald Reagan
Peace is the virtue of civilization. War is its crime. Victor Hugo

All we are saying is give peace a chance. John Lennon
Peace cannot be kept by force. It can only be achieved by understanding. Albert Einstein

Peace quote by Albert Einstein — Peace cannot be kept by force. It can only be achieved by understanding. Albert Einstein

If you don’t know the guy on the other side of the world, love him anyway because he’s just like you. He has the same dreams, the same hopes and fears. It’s one world, pal. We’re all neighbors. Frank Sinatra

From the equality of rights springs identity of our highest interests; you cannot subvert your neighbor’s rights without striking a dangerous blow at your own. Carl Schurz
It is your concern when your neighbor’s wall is on fire. Horace
War is only a cowardly escape from the problems of peace. Thomas Mann

My country is the world, and my religion is to do good. Thomas Paine
Adults are just outdated children. Dr. Seuss

Peace quote by Dr. Seuss — Adults are just outdated children. Dr. Seuss

I want you to be concerned about your next door neighbor. Do you know your next door neighbor? Mother Teresa

If everyone demanded peace instead of another television set, then there’d be peace. John Lennon
Human suffering anywhere concerns men and women everywhere. Elie Wiesel
Imagine all the people living life in peace.You may say that I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one. I hope someday you’ll join us and the world will be as one. John Lennon

We do not need guns and bombs to bring peace, we need love and compassion. Mother Teresa
Establishing lasting peace is the work of education; all politics can do is keep us out of war. Maria Montessori

Conclusion and Thoughts after Reading Peace Quotes for Kids

When war breaks out somewhere, even far away, people who live there might leave. That is something that might affect us even in our country: refugees of war have no resources and they need support.

It’s important to talk to kids about compassion, empathy and the value of loving others while respecting their differences. War has never been an easy nor a humane answer to world problems. Coming to terms with who we are, what we stand for and what our values are in life is a good starting point to teach what peace is all about.

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