Man constantly prayed to God for peace, but peace never happened, so he decided that his god must really want war because the other side was sinful. Man invented and extolled virtues which could only be exemplified under conditions of war, like heroism and gallantry and honor, and he gave himself laurel wreaths or booty or medals for such things, thus rewarding himself for behaving well while sinning. He did it when he was a primitive, and he went on with it after he thought he was civilized.

About This Quote

Themes

  • God — Spiritual reflections on the divine, faith, and creation
  • Peace — The pursuit of harmony, reconciliation, and inner calm
  • War — Reflections on conflict, peace, and the human cost of war

More quotes by Sheri S. Tepper, Raising the Stones

Related Quotes