Emily Greene Balch
Emily Greene Balch
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Full Name and Common Aliases
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Emily Greene Balch was a prominent American pacifist, sociologist, and educator. Her full name is often cited as Emily Greene Balch, but she was also known by her married name, Emily Greene Balch Wilson.
Birth and Death Dates
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Born: January 8, 1867
Died: January 9, 1961
Nationality and Profession(s)
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Emily Greene Balch was an American of French descent. She was a pacifist, sociologist, and educator by profession.
Early Life and Background
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Emily Greene Balch was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on January 8, 1867. Her father, Francis Green Balch, was a Unitarian minister, and her mother, Mary Greene Balch, came from a long line of French Huguenots. Emily's early life was marked by a strong emphasis on social justice and humanitarian causes. She was educated at Miss Porter's Finishing School in Connecticut and later attended Wellesley College, where she earned her bachelor's degree in 1889.
Major Accomplishments
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Emily Balch's accomplishments are numerous and diverse. Some of her most significant achievements include:
Serving as the president of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) from 1922 to 1946.
Working tirelessly for disarmament, international cooperation, and human rights throughout her life.
Being a vocal advocate for women's suffrage and equal rights.Notable Works or Actions
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Emily Balch was a prolific writer and speaker. Some of her notable works include:
"Women's International Congress Against War" (1915)
"The Social Services of the United States" (1924-1930, co-authored with others)
She also served as a member of the US delegation to the League of Nations in Geneva from 1935 to 1946.
Impact and Legacy
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Emily Balch's impact on society is immense. Her tireless efforts towards peace, justice, and human rights have inspired generations. Today, she is remembered as a pioneering figure in the history of pacifism and social activism.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
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Emily Greene Balch is widely quoted and remembered for her commitment to nonviolence and international cooperation. Her words continue to inspire people around the world:
"The ultimate goal of human existence...is not wealth, nor power, nor prestige; but peace."
"To be a pacifist is not to be weak or sentimental; it is to be courageous in refusing to cooperate with evil."
Emily Balch's legacy extends far beyond her impressive list of accomplishments. She embodies the spirit of dedication and compassion that has made her an enduring figure in history. Her quotes, writings, and actions continue to educate and inspire new generations of social activists and peace advocates.
Quotes by Emily Greene Balch
Emily Greene Balch's insights on:
A dark and terrible side of this sense of community of interests is the fear of a horrible common destiny which in these days of atomic weapons darkens men’s minds all around the globe.
It is natural to try to understand one’s own time and to seek to analyse the forces that move it.
Technology gives us the facilities that lessen the barriers of time and distance – the telegraph and cable, the telephone, radio, and the rest.
As the world community develops in peace, it will open up great untapped reservoirs in human nature.
Human nature seems to me like the Alps. The depths are profound, black as night, and terrifying, but the heights are equally real, uplifted in the sunshine.
We are not asked to subscribe to any utopia or to believe in a perfect world just around the corner. We are asked to be patient with necessarily slow and groping advance on the road forward, and to be ready for each step ahead as it become practicable. We are asked to equip ourselves with courage, hope, readiness for hard work, and to cherish large and generous ideals.
Let us be patient with one another, And even patient with ourselves. We have a long, long way to go. So let us hasten along the road, The road of human tenderness and generosity. Groping, we may find one another's hands in the dark.
The First World War, and especially the latest one, largely swept away what was left in Europe of feudalism and of feudal landlords, especially in Poland, Hungary, and the South East generally.
The question whether the long effort to put an end to war can succeed without another major convulsion challenges not only our minds but our sense of responsibility.