Recently, I stumbled upon a quote on the Reddit platform that had me deeply contemplating its profound implications. Every once in a while, a saying or a statement stands out from the flood of thoughts and words that inundate our daily lives. This one, in particular, festered in my mind, pushing me towards an exploration of my personal philosophy. The quote was, “You can’t truly call yourself ‘peaceful’ unless you are capable of great violence. If you’re not capable of violence, you’re not peaceful, you’re harmless.”

Decoding this statement it insiniates that peace is not merely the absence of violence, but a deliberate choice made by someone who has the full capacity to wreak havoc, but opts not to. It suggests that a true “peaceful” individual must understand violence in all its forms, has the ability to exercise it, but decides not to for the sake of harmony and good. This person is peaceful, not because they are docile or incapable of inflicting harm, but because they refuse to allow violent tendencies to dictate their actions. Conversely, if a person lacks the capability to engage in violence, they are not truly peaceful, but rather harmless. They do not posses the power to hurt or destroy, and as such, they remain innocuous out of compulsion, not conviction.

The quote points towards a intriguing paradigm shift. It urges individuals to take ownership of their own peace, to make it a personal choice rather than a circumstantial…