You can always make peace with an F-16 in your pocket.

Hear, O children of the present and the future, the words of Yitzhak Rabin, soldier and statesman of Israel, who declared with wisdom both stern and practical: “You can always make peace with an F-16 in your pocket.” In this saying lies the paradox of power and peace, the eternal dance between strength and reconciliation. For Rabin, who bore arms in defense of his people yet stretched forth his hand toward his enemies in pursuit of peace, knew well that peace does not endure when it is built upon weakness, but only when it is forged from strength.

What is meant by the F-16 in your pocket? It is not merely the machine, though the fighter jet itself symbolizes might, deterrence, and military supremacy. It is the reminder that peace is respected when those who seek it have the power to defend it. A dove that flies unguarded may be devoured by hawks; but a dove who rests beneath the watch of the eagle cannot be touched. Rabin’s words are both a warning and a guide: peace is precious, but it must be shielded by strength, lest it be broken by those who scorn treaties and covenants.

Consider the story of Rabin himself, who once wore the mantle of general and later the crown of peacemaker. As a soldier, he defended Israel in wars that threatened its very survival. As prime minister, he signed the Oslo Accords with the Palestinians, a bold step toward reconciliation. Yet he pursued peace not as a naïve dreamer, but as a realist who knew that his people must first be secure. He carried in his “pocket” the power of Israel’s army, symbolized in the mighty F-16, and thus he could approach peace from a position of confidence rather than fear. His strength gave credibility to his gestures of reconciliation.

History has shown the same lesson again and again. Recall the words of Theodore Roosevelt, who counseled, “Speak softly and carry a big stick.” Nations that are strong and disciplined are more likely to secure peace, while nations that appear weak invite aggression. After the Second World War, the United States held vast military power, and through that power helped shape a peace that endured for decades in the West. It was not merely goodwill but the shield of strength that allowed treaties and alliances to hold.

Yet Rabin’s words also carry a deeper wisdom. Power alone is not enough. An F-16 in the pocket is not a call to boast, nor a license to dominate. It is a reminder that true peace is made not when one side is crushed, but when both sides recognize that war is futile. Power provides the security necessary to make concessions, to open dialogue, and to extend trust. It is the sword sheathed at the warrior’s side, allowing him to offer his hand in friendship, knowing he is not defenseless.

O seekers of truth, learn from this: in life as in politics, peace requires both strength and mercy. Without strength, mercy is trampled; without mercy, strength becomes tyranny. You must build your power, whether it be the power of knowledge, of skill, of discipline, or of courage. Keep it in your “pocket,” not flaunted but ready. And then, when the moment comes to reconcile, to forgive, to make peace, you can do so not from fear, but from confidence.

The lesson for your own life is clear: cultivate inner strength, so that your offers of peace are not seen as weakness, but as choice. In your family, your friendships, your work—let your words of reconciliation come not from desperation, but from calm authority. Build your defenses through discipline, patience, and wisdom, so that when you extend your hand, others know it is not compulsion but true intention. In this way, you will secure not only peace, but lasting respect.

So remember the wisdom of Yitzhak Rabin: “You can always make peace with an F-16 in your pocket.” Strength and peace are not enemies but companions, each giving meaning to the other. Walk with both—be gentle in speech, but steadfast in readiness. For the peace born of strength is the peace that endures.