APAD: Beat swords into ploughshares

Meaning:

    Turn to peaceful pursuits and away from war.

 

Background:

   From the Bible, Isaiah II (King James Version):

     They shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into

     pruning-hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall

     they learn war any more.

 

- www.phrases.org.uk [edited]

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It was in the 90s and we'd never had it so good. Bloody political campaigns had

given way to economic growth, the Cold War fizzled out as the east and west beat

swords into ploughshares, China was doubling down on joining the WTO, hightech

firms were dangling well-paid jobs in front of the uni students around

ZhongGuanCun, and we were cramming for GRE & TOEFL. It took two more decades for

me to suspect I was not the self-made man I thought I was and it was pure dumb

luck.