“I like to believe that people in the long run are going to do more to promote peace than our governments. Indeed, I think that people want peace so much that one of these days governments had better get out of the way and let them have it.”
- October 14, 1890 – March 28, 1969
- American
- The 34th President of the United States, General, Military Leader
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Quote
“I like to believe that people in the long run are going to do more to promote peace than our governments. Indeed, I think that people want peace so much that one of these days governments had better get out of the way and let them have it.”
Explanation
In this quote, Eisenhower expresses a deep faith in the will of ordinary people to pursue peace, even when governments may act more slowly or cautiously. He distinguishes between popular desire and political inertia, suggesting that while leaders often get entangled in power struggles, ideology, or bureaucracy, the general public instinctively understands the value of peace and longs for it with greater urgency. His statement carries both hope and critique: hope in humanity’s moral compass, and critique of governmental resistance to change.
The historical context reflects Eisenhower’s experiences during the Cold War, when diplomatic progress was often hindered by geopolitical rivalry. Despite public fears of nuclear war and widespread calls for disarmament, the arms race continued. Eisenhower, though a former general, frequently spoke in favor of diplomacy, restraint, and public responsibility, recognizing that sustainable peace required more than treaties—it demanded the collective will of nations’ citizens.
Today, his quote resonates strongly amid global movements for human rights, climate action, and anti-war advocacy. In an age where grassroots activism and global connectivity empower people to push for change, Eisenhower’s words remind us that governments are not the sole guardians of peace. Often, lasting progress begins when people unite with conviction—and when leaders have the humility to follow.
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