Excerpt from a letter to Bertha von Suttner, 1893
I would like to leave by will (bequeathe) part of my fortune in order to create a prize to be awarded every fifth year (let‘s say six times, because if it will not be successful within thirty years to reform our society as it exists today, we will absolutely return to barbarism) to a man or a woman who most efficiently participated to implement peace in Europe. I do not talk about disarmament, because this aim could only slowly and carefully be reached, not either about mandatory arbitration. But one can, and it should be quickly attained at least so far, that all states reach a mutual agreement to take measures against those who do not accept peace.