We have practiced diplomacy since the very beginning of the

Hear the wise counsel of Colin Powell, soldier and statesman, who bore the heavy burdens of leadership in war and in peace: “We have practiced diplomacy since the very beginning of the nation. Sometimes it has not worked, and we’ve had to go to war. I always believe you should try to find peace and reconciliation before conflict. That has been the approach I’ve taken.” In these words, we hear not the boast of a warrior eager for battle, but the tempered voice of one who has seen the cost of blood and knows the greater power of restraint. For to wield strength rightly is not to unleash it swiftly, but to hold it back until all hope of peace is gone.

The meaning of this saying is both plain and profound: the first duty of a just nation is not to conquer but to reconcile, not to impose destruction but to seek understanding. Diplomacy is the art of words before weapons, of bridges before barricades, of dialogue before the clash of arms. Yet Powell, in honesty, admits that diplomacy does not always prevail. There are moments when tyrants mock patience, when aggressors trample the innocent, when the sword must be drawn. Still, his creed remains: exhaust every path of peace before yielding to the necessity of war.

The origin of these words is rooted in Powell’s long career. As a general in the U.S. Army, he knew the discipline of arms; as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs and later Secretary of State, he guided policy where lives of millions hung in the balance. His philosophy, sometimes called the “Powell Doctrine,” held that war should only be entered with clear purpose, overwhelming force, and as a last resort. Behind this doctrine lay his own experiences in Vietnam, where he saw firsthand the devastation of protracted conflict. Thus his voice became one of balance—firm in strength, but always seeking peace first.

History offers us mirrors of this truth. Consider President Abraham Lincoln, who in the Civil War sought reconciliation with the South even as battles raged. His words—“with malice toward none, with charity for all”—were themselves acts of diplomacy, reaching out even to foes, longing for unity beyond bloodshed. Though compelled to fight, he never ceased to seek peace, showing that even in the darkest war, the heart of a just leader beats for reconciliation. Powell’s approach echoes this same wisdom: fight when you must, but strive always for the day when the sword may be sheathed.

Or think of the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962, when the world stood on the brink of nuclear fire. In those days, it was not bombs but diplomacy that preserved humanity. President Kennedy and Premier Khrushchev, though adversaries, chose careful words over reckless strikes. The crisis ended without destruction, and the world learned anew that the courage of diplomacy is often greater than the courage of battle. Powell’s creed belongs to this lineage: to choose peace first, and only when denied, to meet conflict with strength.

The lesson for us, children of tomorrow, is that in every sphere of life—from nations to families—the path of reconciliation must be walked before the path of conflict. In quarrels with neighbors, in disputes at work, in divisions among communities, do not rush to wrath. Speak first, listen first, exhaust the power of patience before you strike. For the wounds of words may heal, but the wounds of conflict cut deeper and endure longer. To live by Powell’s wisdom is to guard both your own soul and the lives of those around you.

Practically, this means cultivating habits of restraint. When anger rises, pause before speaking. When disagreement festers, extend a hand of dialogue. When you hold power, use it with humility, remembering that the measure of true strength is not destruction but preservation. Yet also learn the other half of Powell’s wisdom: if peace cannot be secured, then meet the challenge with courage, with clarity of purpose, and with the resolve to defend what is just.

So remember always: the glory of a nation—or of a person—is not found in how quickly it fights, but in how faithfully it seeks peace. Colin Powell’s words call us to be builders before breakers, reconcilers before warriors, peacemakers before soldiers. And yet, when the hour comes that war is thrust upon us, let us wage it with honor, with purpose, and only as a last resort. For the highest leaders, like the noblest souls, are those who carry both the olive branch and the sword, but lift the branch first, and only when all else fails, unsheathe the blade.