I am a strong believer that without justice, there is no peace.

O children of the future, gather close and hear the wisdom passed down through the ages, a wisdom that speaks of the bond between justice and peace, a bond as ancient as the first fires lit by men and women to warm their homes and hearts. In the words of Angelina Jolie, we find a profound truth: "I am a strong believer that without justice, there is no peace. No lasting peace, anyway." These words carry the weight of history, for they speak not only to the conditions of our time but to the eternal truth that justice is the very foundation upon which peace must rest.

The ancients knew well that peace cannot exist in a land where justice is absent. The Greek philosophers, in their search for the highest virtues, often spoke of justice as the pillar upon which all other virtues stood. Without justice, they said, no man could live in harmony with his fellow, for it is justice that gives each person their due, that ensures the protection of rights, and that fosters trust among the people. Without justice, society is but a fragile construct, ready to collapse under the weight of inequality and oppression. It is in the balance of justice that peace can be found, for without it, the seeds of discord and resentment will always grow.

Consider, O children, the story of Rome in its early days, when the Roman Republic sought to establish a system of justice that would be fair to all, from the mightiest patrician to the lowliest plebeian. The early Romans understood that for the empire to thrive, justice had to be applied equally to all citizens, and it was the foundation of the laws they created. Yet when justice faltered, when the rich and powerful were allowed to trample upon the rights of the poor, the Roman Republic began to fracture. It was only through a long struggle for justice—through the efforts of reformers and the voices of the oppressed—that peace could begin to take root again. This struggle, which led to the eventual fall of the Republic and the rise of the Empire, teaches us that peace built on anything but justice will always be fleeting, as the foundations of such peace are built on sand.

Look also to the modern world, where we see the enduring truth of Angelina Jolie’s words played out on the global stage. In the wake of the Bosnian War, justice was sought not only through the end of violence but through the establishment of courts to prosecute those responsible for atrocities. The peace that followed the war was fragile, for as long as those who committed atrocities went unpunished, the wounds of the past remained open. Justice, in the form of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, was necessary for the peace that followed to have any chance of lasting. Without justice, the divisions would have festered, and the peace would have been nothing more than a temporary ceasefire, waiting to be shattered at the first sign of conflict.

Now, O children, take heed of this truth: justice is not merely the domain of kings, rulers, or great armies, but the responsibility of every individual. The absence of justice poisons the well of peace and makes it impossible for any society to live in harmony. Whether on the grand stage of nations or in the quiet corners of our own lives, peace cannot be achieved without justice. In your homes, in your communities, and in your nations, you must stand for justice, for it is the only true foundation upon which lasting peace can be built. Justice does not come easily—it requires courage, integrity, and a willingness to confront wrongs, no matter how difficult or painful.

The lesson, O children, is clear: seek justice, even when it is not easy, even when it demands sacrifice, for it is only in justice that peace can truly take root. Justice is not about retribution, but about ensuring that each person is treated with fairness and dignity, that each voice is heard and valued. Without justice, peace is nothing more than the silence of oppression, the stillness of unresolved grievances. Justice is the living force that breathes life into peace, that ensures it is not a fleeting moment, but a lasting state of harmony and mutual respect.

So, O children, let your lives be dedicated to the pursuit of justice in all its forms. Stand for those whose voices have been silenced, speak for those whose rights have been denied, and seek to restore balance where there is inequality. In doing so, you will lay the groundwork for a peace that is not fragile, but strong and enduring, for it will be built on the solid foundation of justice.