All men want peace, but all do not seek those things that bring true peace.

[Pacem omnes desiderant: sed quæ ad veram pacem pertinent, non omnes curant.]

Thomas von Kempen
Thomas à Kempis (c. 1380-1471) German-Dutch priest, author
The Imitation of Christ [De Imitatione Christi], Book 3, ch. 25, v. 1 (3.25.1) [Christ] (c. 1418-27) [tr. Sherley-Price (1952)]
    (Source)

(Source (Latin)). Alternate translations:

All men desire peace, but all men will not do that belongeth to peace.
[tr. Whitford/Raynal (1530/1871)]

All men desire peace, but all will not do what pertains to peace.
[tr. Whitford/Gardiner (1530/1955)]

All doe desire peace, but all care not for those things that appertain unto true peace.
[tr. Page (1639), 3.25.2]

But, though Peace be in every Man's Wishes, yet the Qualifications and Predispositions, necessary for procuring and preserving it, are the Care of very few.
[tr. Stanhope (1696; 1706 ed.), 3.29]

Peace is what all desire; but the things that belong to peace, few regard.
[tr. Payne (1803), 3.20]

Peace is what all desire, but all do not care for the things that pertain unto true peace.
[ed. Parker (1841)]

Peace is what all desire; but the things that belong to true peace, few regard.
[tr. Dibdin (1851), 3.23]

Peace is what all desire: but all care not for those things which appertain to true peace.
[ed. Bagster (1860)]

All men desire peace, but all do not care for the things which belong unto true peace.
[tr. Benham (1874)]

Peace is what all desire, but all do not care for the things that pertain unto true peace.
[tr. Anon. (1901)]

All men desire peace but all do not care for the things that go to make true peace.
[tr. Croft/Bolton (1940)]

All long for peace, but all do not care for what leads to true peace.
[tr. Daplyn (1952)]

Peace is something everyone longs for, but it is not everyone who troubles to find out what brings true peace.
[tr. Knox-Oakley (1959)]

Everyone desires peace, but not everyone cares for the things that bring real peace.
[tr. Knott (1962)]

Everybody wants peace; but not everybody cares about what really brings peace.
[tr. Rooney (1979)]

Everyone wants peace, but not all care for what leads to true peace.
[tr. Creasy (1989)]

All men desire peace, but few desire the things that make for peace.
[Common translation]


 
Added on 1-Feb-04 | Last updated 28-Sep-23
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