“Even peace may be purchased at too high a price.”
- January 17, 1706 – April 17, 1790
- American
- Polymath, Founding Father of the United States, Inventor, Diplomat, Writer
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Quote
“Even peace may be purchased at too high a price.”
Explanation
In this quote, Benjamin Franklin cautions that peace, though desirable, is not always worth the cost if it demands too much in return. The phrase “at too high a price” suggests that peace achieved through surrender, injustice, or the sacrifice of essential principles may ultimately be more harmful than conflict itself. Franklin’s insight reflects a belief that not all peace is honorable, and that some compromises may erode freedom, dignity, or long-term stability.
This perspective is deeply rooted in Franklin’s experience as both a revolutionary and a diplomat. He helped negotiate peace with Britain after the American Revolutionary War, but only after a hard-won struggle for independence. For Franklin, peace without liberty or justice was hollow. His words serve as a warning against appeasement that endangers core values or encourages tyranny.
Today, the quote remains powerfully relevant in global politics, social justice movements, and personal ethics. Whether in international diplomacy or personal relationships, peace that requires silence in the face of oppression or submission to unfair demands is not true peace, but a fragile illusion. Franklin reminds us that principled resistance may sometimes be the higher path, even when it delays or disrupts tranquility.
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