A. J. Muste Quotes

United States, Political Activist
January 8, 1885 – February, 11, 1967.

Abraham Johannes Muste ( MUS-tee; 1885–1967) was a Dutch-born American clergyman and political activist. Muste is best remembered for his work in the labor movement, pacifist movement, anti-war movement, and the Civil Rights Movement.

There is no way to peace; peace is the way.

A. J. Muste
- Way
- Peace
The survival of democracy depends on the renunciation of violence and the development of nonviolent means to combat evil and advance the good.

A. J. Muste
- Good
- Mean
- Evil

'Recent Gains in the Quest for Peace' in The World tomorrow Vol. 11, No. 1 (January 1928), p. 8; including a quote from the Communist song 'The Advancing Proletaire.'

A. J. Muste
- World
- Song
- Peace
Joy and growth come from following our deepest impulses, however foolish they may seem to some, or dangerous, and even though the apparent outcome may be defeat.

A. J. Muste
- May
- Joy
- Growth
We cannot have peace if we are only concerned with peace. War is not an accident. It is the logical outcome of a certain way of life. If we want to attack war, we have to attack that way of life.

A. J. Muste
- Life
- War
- Peace
Violence begets violence by whomever used. War is a dirty business and entails the use of degrading means, whoever wages it.

A. J. Muste
- Business
- War
- Peace
Educational enterprises do not for any length of time remain immune from the struggle of interests for power which is the dominant feature of social life under a class system.

A. J. Muste
- Life
- Time
- Power
In a world built on violence, one must be a revolutionary before one can be a pacifist.

A. J. Muste
- World
- Violence

Paradoxically, life is worth living for those who have something for which they will gladly give up life.

A. J. Muste
- Life
- Up
- Life is
The problem after a war is the victor. He thinks he has just proved that war and violence pay. Who will now teach him a lesson?

A. J. Muste
- War
- Violence