Believe me, it is much harder to make peace than war.

"Believe me, it is much harder to make peace than war." These words, spoken by Juan Manuel Santos, a man who has seen the scars of war and the delicate nature of peace, carry with them the weight of profound wisdom. The act of war is often seen as the more straightforward path—there are clear lines, defined sides, and a certain predictability in its chaos. But peace—ah, peace is far more elusive, as Santos teaches us. It requires not just the cessation of violence, but a deep and often painful transformation of hearts, minds, and entire systems of power. To make peace is to build something lasting, something that demands patience, humility, and an unwavering commitment to a better future.

Consider the ancient wars of the world—Rome, with its vast empire, knew the brutality of war well. Its warriors were skilled, its generals fierce, and its conquests swift. Yet, the true test of empire did not lie in how swiftly it could strike, but in how well it could bring peace to the lands it conquered. Julius Caesar, a man known for his military prowess, faced a daunting challenge not in the conquest of lands, but in the reconciliation of peoples. After his victories, the true battle was not fought on the battlefield, but in the delicate dance of bringing together diverse cultures, broken spirits, and shattered societies into a unified whole. It was much harder to make peace than war, and history tells us that the failure to achieve it would sow the seeds for future conflict.

Look to the modern world, where Juan Manuel Santos himself is a living example of the truth he speaks. The Colombian conflict, which raged for more than half a century, was a brutal, unyielding war that seemed as if it could never end. Santos was a man who sat at the negotiating table, not with weapons in hand, but with a heart full of resolve and a mind focused on building something different. The peace he sought was not a mere agreement on paper, but a transformation of the very spirit of a nation. To turn the tide of conflict in Colombia required far more than military victories—it demanded the healing of deep wounds, the restoration of trust, and the difficult task of reconciliation. As Santos knew well, to make peace was not only to end violence, but to mend what had been broken, to forge new paths where old ones had led only to destruction.

Think of the great figures in history who, like Santos, sought peace not through force but through understanding and courage. Nelson Mandela, after spending years in prison, emerged not with hatred in his heart but with the desire to unite a fractured nation. His journey was one of immeasurable difficulty, for the wounds of apartheid were deep, and the distrust between races was palpable. But Mandela understood the wisdom in Santos’ words: peace is harder to achieve than war. He chose the harder path—the path of forgiveness, the path of dialogue, and in doing so, he transformed a nation. His efforts were not without sacrifice, and they were not without resistance, but in the end, South Africa emerged from the darkness of division into the light of unity, a testament to the transformative power of peace.

In the Bible, the great story of King David offers another example of the struggle to make peace. Although David was a mighty warrior, he also knew that true leadership required something more than military triumph. After many years of conflict, David sought to unite the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. His desire for peace was evident, but he also understood the difficulty of his task. David’s peace did not come easily—there was betrayal, there was heartache, and there were those who sought to undermine his efforts. But David’s commitment to peace, even in the face of overwhelming odds, offers a timeless lesson: the road to peace is fraught with challenges, but it is the road worth taking.

And so, let us take heed of Juan Manuel Santos’ wisdom. To make peace is to embark on a path of immense difficulty. It is not a simple matter of declaring an end to conflict. True peace requires the strength to listen, the courage to forgive, and the wisdom to understand that healing comes not quickly, but over time. Peace is not merely the absence of war; it is the presence of understanding, the cultivation of compassion, and the rebuilding of trust. It is a long, often painful process that requires us to confront the very essence of what divides us and to choose, in each moment, the hard path of reconciliation over the easy one of conflict.

In your own life, remember the lessons of history and the wisdom passed down through the ages. When faced with conflict, whether personal or global, take the time to reflect. Do not seek the immediate resolution that comes with the sword or the shout, but seek the deeper resolution that comes from listening, from forgiving, and from rebuilding what has been broken. The harder path, the path of peace, is not the easiest to walk, but it is the one that leads to true transformation. And, like the great figures of history who have walked this path before us, we too can contribute to a world that chooses peace over war, understanding over hatred, and unity over division.