if you want peace, prepare for war en · X
Etymology
Calque of Latin sī vīs pācem, parā bellum, an adage adapted from a statement found in 4th century AD Roman author Vegetius's tract De re militari, in which the actual phrasing is igitur quī dēsīderat pācem, praeparet bellum (“therefore let him who desires peace prepare for war”).
Meanings
- Visibly preparing for a fight can deter one's enemies from opening hostilities, by not giving the appearance of an easy target.
Relateds
peace through strength · deterrence · make love, not war · balance of terror
Translations (8)
la sī vīs pācem, parā bellum (Translations) · fi jos haluat rauhaa, valmistaudu sotaan (Translations) · ru хо́чешь ми́ра, гото́вься к войне́ (Translations) · fr si tu veux la paix prépare la guerre (Translations) · ka თუ გსურს მშვიდობა, ემზადე ომისთვის (Translations) · pl jeśli chcesz pokoju, przygotuj się do wojny (Translations) · de wenn du Frieden willst, rüste zum Krieg (Translations) · es si quieres la paz prepara la guerra (Translations)