Nonviolent solutions are lasting and bring harmony. We seek not only to bring about an end to violence once it has started, but also an end to the causes of violence. Many people associate Quakers with draft resisters, but do not realize that we believe we must work as hard for peace in times of peace as in times of war. T he testimony of Simplicity is a commitment not to live beyond our needs. This doesn't mean that we live spartan and monastic lives.
Friends go to movies, have VCRs, and enjoy a good meal.
We recognize that more than food, shelter, and clothing are needed to make a person happy. But we feel that living a life of excess and conspicuous consumption gets in the way of the true joys of life. Simplicity also applies to our speech and behavior. It means saying what we mean, being honest and fair, and acting in moderation. Friends do not believe in taking oaths because doing so sets up a double standard of truth.